We Build Personal Testimony Through Prayer and Our Relationship With God

President Clark called me and told me that he is doing everything he can to get me on a flight with Cody. I told him that I appreciate it a lot, as he didn't really have to and I just put another thing on his plate, and he said "Well, it's because we love you, Elder Larsen."and it made me feel really good. I'm grateful for President Clark! I'm super excited to be able to maybe fly in with Cody!

I know Elder Tekulve! He's a great missionary. He was in Vyborg the whole time I was North Zone Leader, and he has become a good friend. I'll tell him about Elder Blakenship having dinner at our house.

You say we are great kids, but you can't have great kids without great parents! Tell Kallie that I jumped with fright when I saw her Jason costume ha ha. Sorry to say, but your cards and letters haven't come yet... but I'll be looking for them! 

Well, last week we called lots of people and set up appointments, but almost all of them fell through... Our efforts weren't wasted though, as we found a former investigator named Ivan. He lost contact with the missionaries 2 years ago and has read almost all of the Book of Mormon and wants to hear all the lessons. He is young, about 25 maybe, and really is searching for the truth. He has some concerns about Joseph Smith and about if the Book of Mormon is really from God, and we talked a lot about prayer and personal revelation, that we can talk with our Heavenly Father about this and He will talk back. Same story at our lessons with an investigators named Nikolai and Alexander. Nikolai belongs to a different church and has problems accepting anything other than the Bible, and we talked a lot about it with him. At our meeting with Alexander, he has problems with faith and understanding how to search spiritually. His words, not mine.


Thinking back on this last week, I've realized just really how important gaining a PERSONAL testimony through prayer and building your relationship with God. Once you do this, YOU WILL KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord lives and that His scriptures on the earth today are true.

We had a cool experience on our way back home on Preparation day. We stopped to look at some paintings that they sell on Nevsky Prospekt and a lady came up and noticed our tags and started talking with us. She asked us many questions about prayer and talked with us for a while. This whole time a man was staring at us from across the square and I noticed him. The lady left after taking an invitation, and this man ran over to Elder Ash and I and said," Do you have a book? I want your book." I said I had a Book of Mormon, and this man said,"That's the one! I want your book. I've heard about it." We gave him the Book of Mormon and started talking with him, but unfortunately, he was working and his boss told him to go back and try to sell paintings and we weren't able to get his name or number. I think that is the first time on my mission someone has come up to me and asked me for the Book of Mormon. 

Our best and coolest investigator is still Dasha. She feels like a good friend already. We haven't been able to meet with her for a long time, but she makes sure that we give her a commitment everyday so she can learn and grow. She loves studying the scriptures and she comes to Sacrament meeting. She promised this week will work out, and we know some more people in the branch that we can invite to meet with her this week. We are seeing success, slowly, but surely in the Nevsky Branch. I've redone the areas in my district so we can more effective work as a district, and this week we plan on really getting involved with the branch members now that it will be a little easier/ more effective to work with them.

Elder Ash is doing great and helping me out a lot. I really enjoy serving with him.  Weird to think that this transfer is almost over... It just started. I'll be home before you know it. AHHH! Just realized Elders Nelson, Berven, Anthony, and others leave in 2 weeks! That's crazy!

Well, I've got to run! I love you all and miss you. Do me a favor and email BP will you? Let him know how I'm doing. He sent me an email today and says he comes home the 20th of December! Miss BP.

Keep Smiling- aka Grandpa C.! Be of Good Cheer!

Love,

Blake