Doctor Visit and Sandfish

Thanks for the e-mail Mom! Hey, Dad! Things are going OK and I'm hanging in there. My one year day was good, Elder Clark made me crepes :), but I didn't eat them until the day after because my stomach hurt :( Its better now though.

This week started with an adventure. Don't worry, I'M FINE :) The day we had interviews, Sister Warner, the mission nurse surprised me by taking me to the doctor's office en ville... She's been a bit concerned by my weight loss (I'm fine) and we went to a French doc, who said it's all because of the climate, and stress. He then had me lay down on a table, and squeezed my stomach. It hurt, and he chuckled, and said its probably been clenched for a while. He gave me a prescription for Omeprazole. Supposed to help my stomach work normally, and not feel stressed stomach aches. I've taken it for a few days, and I actually have been hungry for breakfast :) I am fine don't worry!

Interviews were good, and President Gave me a blessing. I really love President Bize, and I want to do the best I can.

I love you! Got a few minutes left today, but not much.

I've been fishing a bit here, sending some pics. Ugly sand fish.

Brigham

Oh and PS, I went to some sweet fishing stores today! I might buy a cheapie rod with the Christmas money. We shall see though :)

You Gotta Try to Eat Sashimi!

Thanks for the email Dad! Good to hear about hiking and travels and Cherise's engagement from her too! So cool :)

Cool action figure too :D hehe. Brother so and so is probably making lots of action figures, hehehe

This week was OK. Thanks for the advice and the love. I really need the prayers.

I don't have lots of writing time, and I have to email a big letter to Pres. Bize.  I LOVE YOU! I pray for you guys.  Sorry for short email. I'm doing OK, and and sending a letter this week too. Went fishing :) Sending report in mail :)

Also, good recuperation for mom! Sorry mom! I know things will be OK. I sure hope this will be the last surgery for a while.

Thanks for the love. I love you. Really do.

Good luck in Japan, Dad. OH! You gotta try to eat SASHIMI! It is sooo good. It might make you a little ill if you eat a lot the first time though. I really recommend it with soy sauce, or mustard sashimi sauce. If you don't eat it, I don't blame you though. really took me a minute to try it. Raw.... just raw... tuna is so good raw :)

LOVE YOU DAD and MOM!!!

Brigham

Hi

This week has been interesting. Thank you for the prayers. I need them.

This week, I got to see Hitiaa. it is a HUGE sector, and a small ward, as in not a lot of people. It's super pretty here too. The people here are cool, and have a laid back mentality. I just hope that we can get some more work done. We were at the house a lot this week, because ET is sick. I think he's over it. If not, we're still not gonna go to the house :\  I am doing OK, I just need your prayers to help us become efficient, and please pray to help us find the people I need to find.

Luckily I am with Elder Clark and LeeChipSao. LCS is from my first sector, and I know his family REALLY well. His cousin is the one who worked with me and E Clark in Vairaoo while waiting for his visa. Its nice to have them there. Things will be OK.

Whilst at the house, I read almost all of Our Heritage, in French. OK mom, you were right. Its good, and I should have brought it :P I got a copy from the distribution center, and I really have appreciated reading it. The stories in it are awesome, and make me remember that I have it lucky. I really am proud to be a member, and I am so happy that I am. I love you all, and I miss you, but I know things will work out. I am doing my best, and I need to make my best better.

Thanks for your prayers and love. I love you too, and I will try and write more next week. I'm doing OK. I love you!!!

Oh, and I got some letters! Thanks :)

Love you!

Brigham

Transferred to Hitia

[This week's entry is somewhat redacted.  Family can contact Steve to get a forwarded copy of the original. -SL]

This week has been CRAZY. Sadly, I think I'm missing Billabong [i.e. he will not be in the vicinity of Teahupo'o for when the pro surfing tour stops there in August.  -SL]

This week started out with the concert with Pres Bize, Sunday. I think I told you all about that. It was sweet. Then, Tuesday, I was on a split with Elder Demynuk (from France) and it was great too. Then upon returning to the house with Elder Ball, I get a call from the assistants... They told me I'm going to HITIA. It's not far from my old sector actually.

So the next day we have a mission conference, SWEET! President Bize is sooo cool, and I loved his formations--he talks like half English and half French. He is implementing programs to teach all misssionaires English because of how it blessed his life. Any way, so during the conf, I go talk to President, and tells me about my new companion.

So, Thursday, till Saturday was awkward, leaving the sector is just odd. Requestioning lots of stuff, like, "Do I teach well enough, what do I need to improve for the next sector, and what didn't I get done yet?"  Stressfull. And hard to say goodbye. Sunday, we did a zone fireside for members; and President Bize came, SUPRISE! Again, HE IS SO awesome. Had a good last day in Vairao, and then my good friend, Sister Temauri, organized a going away meal for me :O Several new converts and dear families. Wow; Sooo lucky. I cried like a little boy, and said goodbye. I REALLY love the people there, and wow. Just wow. Weird leaving.

Today I got to Hitia. Said bye to E Ball, and then whoop! Had a good day. My comp's name is Elder Teihotu. He's from here, and FISHES!!! I caught a small surf fish today, and sounds like P-day fishing will be a repeat activity :D Oh also found out my friend Elder CLARK! is in the same house :) He's my zone leader now, and I am lucky to have a good friend and support there like all the time.

Sorry if this e-mail is scattered or just awkward. I am doing well. Thanks for all your love and support.  I am so glad to be missionaire.

PS the 4th was fun here. Had a disrtict meeting and sang God Bless America.... :P

I LOVE YOU!!! Thanks!!

Pics next week, not lots of time.
I LOVE YOU!

Elder Brigham Larsen

Just Happy Days!

Howdy! Thanks for the emails all!

Yes, dad E Ball and I are getting along well. He is such a good guy. Good hearted and honest to the core. He is a smart, cool guy too. He speaks Californian, and loves surfing, and is majoring in physics (might change). Just a cool dude. He keeps us working hard too!

Yesterday we saw Presidnet Bize. He is a cool dude, who just breathes, CEO. hehehe . Not a bad thing. His French is awesome, with natural French accent (duh), his English is too, with less accent, and he speaks Tahitian with an American accent. Crazy. He is a nice man. He asked me where I'm from and then talked to me about potatoes, after I told him Idaho. I look forward to his direction, and help. He says his goal is to make the current leadership, REAL leaders, and to put the church on the map here. The poll of religions says PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC, and  OTHER, according to the almanac. To be listed as a percentage other than OTHER, it has to be at 10 percent or higher, so that's his goal for his time as pres. Cool, I thought. Excited too. Saying bye to President Sinjoux last night was hard and weird. He took the time to shake each one of our hands, and say goodbye. He hugged me, and whispered some advice to me in the crowd. I will really miss him, and his character. He is truly full of Christlike love. I hope to learn from Pres Bize too!

This week was a good one, ended in a pair of BAPTISMS! wooho! The middle of the week was a bit off though. Elder Ball's been sick, and I've been a little sick too. I think we ate something a bit off, but I think I just have like a cold. Sore throat and all. But we're OK. Got through the worst of it listening to talks on Elder Ball's USB.

The baptisms were of two children, 9 and 10, of a sweet lady who used to be a member. She had a miracle that lead her back to church, and E Ball and I taught and just baptized her two kids. I felt crazy deja vu from my lessons as and 8 year old. WOW. Weird huh,? It made me realize what a big role the missionaries have, and teaching kids is just as important as teaching 30 year olds, if not more important. If done well, it will lead a whole family to successful, happy, Gospel life, not just a single 30 year old guy. Wow. It's been a sacred and fun chance to teach these girls. They are so cute, and very very attentive. One asked me to baptize her, and the other asked Elder Ball. Just cool! Their dad was touched by the baptism too! Just cool! I really have high hopes for this whole family. Just happy days!

This week was good. Lots of cancellations, and lots of back up plans, and some change. I took the 3rd hour class with E Ball for 5th Sunday, and it was great. I read in Jacob 4 (favourite chapter) today about how God gives us weaknesses so we can recognize his hand when we succeed. I really appreciated his help in the fireside, and in the class. These are really moments of weakness for me, made strong. I relish these sacred chances. I just love being a missionary. I just love it!

Good to hear travels are going OK. Have fun back East! Be safe!!! Sorry to hear about the surgery Mom :(. I will pray for you! I love you tons!

Thanks for sending pants! Mom, St. Patrick's isn't a holiday to me either, hehehe. :P I feel very lucky, and very LOVED with the level of support and love you guys give me, apart from, and including packages and mail. I know you guys love me! Oh, and THANKS for the chocolate fish Cherise and mom! Made it intact :).

With the pants, if you could send a bit of scripture study materials that would be cool too, like a Scripture master Book mark or something like that. I love looking up scriptures. Thanks for the SDs too! They are GREAT! Really though, THANK YOU THANK YOU! Thank you SOOO much for all the prayers, pants, love, and mail! I love you tons!

I love you family! Have a good week, and I will too!

Brigham

Just before transfers a week back.  I love Elder Houde (in yellow).  He's my buddy.

Cool Clouds

Very Brief E-mail

Thanks for the emails! Crazy cool travels, Dad :) Hope the next owner of the trailer has as much fun with it as we did. Weird to think about how little value the object carries, but how great the times were we had together inside of it. I love my family. AND I love that "pacificy" smell.

Got like NO emails time today, a cause de le repetition in Papeete today. SO; just know that I love you guys, and I'm doing great. I am happy to be here, and I had a big mac today. YES! Its the real thing man... ooh yeah. Rare, but cherished chance :)

SO happy to hear about Zephne, and to just hear about things at home. I'm almost half way done, and time is going way to fast. June is turning out to be a tough month for the work, but I am learning a lot. Got insulted and laughed at by an Adventist lady, in front of my investigators, and while I walked away I felt the Holy Ghost, and was reminded to always be humble. Not retorting made that situation easy, and I was glad to know I will never do that as a disciple. Interesting experience, and I just felt happy afterwards, knowing that I'm doing the RIGHT thing; weird huh? Kind of another witness for me, even though it came in an odd way.

I love you guys, lots to say this week, but like NO time to say it. Gotta go, so the new elder can use Email. LOVE YOU TONS!!!

Elder Larsen

PS I LOVE YOU

OH, and thanks for all your prayers and mail and love!

:D

Hi All!

Hello!

This week went by FAST. Sheesh. I have no idea what to say because I have a hard time remembering the difference between weeks :P Here goes anyways!

Thanks for the mail!!!! I got the two packages on Friday :) Thank you so much for the SD cards, and the journals, and carabiners, and shirts!! Maruru! Turns out the shirts survived! That was AWESOME! All the elders in the house laughed, and they made a WHOOSH noise when all the air got pulled in, and the shirt fluffed up. Just funny. They fit PERFECTLY, and the collars survived the vacuum sealing. OH, and THANKS for the ties :) They are sooo nice :) They are perfect, and its fun to have a variety. I wore the yellow one with my khakis this weekend. :) That might be the most feminine thing Ive ever said... Coordinating my ties with pants... :P

So, this weeks been crazy. We've had a bunch of lessons fall through, but still taught about 22 investigator lessons. It felt slow day by day, but looking back, it was FAST. We did tons of splits too. That feels slow, but makes it twice as effective in one day. Fun to split with the Priests here.

Elder Ball and went to the jungley half of the island for his second time. We went and recontacted some folks that we've not seen for 6 weeks or so. It was good, and we had fun on the rainy beach. It is SO pretty here.

This week, a HUGE transfer happened, and like half of the mission got moved. AWESOME! We got some sweet elders and sisters in our zone, and there is an old Zone leader in each elder companionship, minus one, that's training. WOW. Gonna keep on getting better in the zone :) Just weird being a ZL to my first ZL. Ive been doing lots of driving now, and we traded the truck for a minivan this week, so the assistants can use the truck to move bikes. Its still stick, but lots different from the truck. Its been fun to learn how to drive stick, and get better driving multiple ones. The truck is EASY and geared way high, but the minivan is spongy, and the clutch is like on or off. Fun, and goes faster, NOT that I'd know.

I love you all very much! Thanks for supporting me, and for being awesome! I love you and miss you. I just filled out my planner for the next 6 weeks, and wrote JULY 24 on a page. Yikes. Thats my halfway day. Its going FAST. Like really. FAST

Have fun traveling. I love you and hope you guys are safe. You and the Gospel are the most important things in my life. When I get home I want to have a family too! That's weird to think about though... I'll stick to being a missionary for at least 13 more months :)

Again, I LOVE YOU! Thanks for your love and support. Thanks for the prayers too; keep em coming :) Thank you thank you thank you!

LOVE YOU!

Elder Larsen