I Could Not Be in a Better Place

Hi everyone! Early emails this week.

Thanks for all the mail, and emails :D. I really am spoiled with all the letters you send. Thanks bunches :D

I am doing well, and I am happy. I could not be in a better place right now, and I know that my mission has been the best thing for me so far. I am sooo happy to be a missionary!

This week has been great. So, before my mission, and earlier in my mission, I always saw the week updates that missionaries sent home, and I thought the format was weird. This day I did XYZ, Tuesday XYZ, and so on for the week. But now, I get it 100%.... If the day -by-day thing bothers you, please lemme know, and I will try and write differently.

Here are some experiences from this week:

Monday, after writing you all, we got to go to the chapel I served at in Heiri, and play soccer, and basketball with the elders in the zone. I got to talk to elder Christensen, elder Randal, and some other mission friends. It was great, and my old companion E Christensen and I got to talk about the old sector, and about Hitiaa (my last sector, where he served about a year ago). Elder Christensen will finish here in just a few weeks, :/ and I will miss the guy. He has been a great friend, and was an excellent companion during a time of learning on my mission. It is weird seeing all my buddies finish. Elder Clark will finish with him too. I love those guys. Monday night, we had a FHE with a member family. The husband is a highcouncilman, and his wife is our ward's primary president.

Tuesday we had several meetings the morning, then we were able to do some work in the sector later. Same with Wednesday. We taught one lesson Wednesday that was soooo different. We taught a woman who is from Raivavae (an island in the Australes, south of Tahiti near Tubuai where E Pratt first arrived) On the island of Raivavae, normal Tahitian isn't really spoken. The dialect there is pretty much Tahitian, but instead of R's they say G's..... it is so weird. Normal Tahitian does not have any G sound, but their crazy island dialect has no R's. So, for example: RAI-VA-VAE (ray va vay) becomes GAI-VA-VAE (gay va vay) trying not to laugh.... the verb 'To speak' - PARAU, become PAGAU (pah gauh) and 'thank you' - MAURURU (mau - roo-roo) becomes MAUGUGU (mah goo goo) :P

The lady speaks french (but prefers Gay va vay) and she gets Tahitian. 

 So I am struggling to comprehend anything being said, and on top of it, MUSIC. 

We taught the lesson in front of her house, and her neighbor began BOOMING crazy dub step rap, trash music. It was so loud. Like more loud than the theater speakers. SO LOUD. It was straight up LOUD.

And then it starts raining.

I got almost nothing during the beginning of the lesson, and while I was thinking about how much we should find another spot to teach, my companion was teaching like a champ. We asked the guy to turn it down, and he wouldn't, and so we just kept teaching. It turns out that the spirit came, my companion taught really well, and the woman had some questions answered. Wow. Really a funny, crazy lesson, and leaving it I was just speechless. It was cGazy, Gight? It's Geally diffeGent tGying to undeGstand, let alone talk without the letteG R, i mean G.... :P

 

Heavenly father looks out for us, and I sure felt happy that we kept teaching. I will never forget that lesson.

Thursday morning, we got to do a service project, and paint for our Primary president's family. It was a great project, with the Zone leaders who live with us, (elder Jessop and elder Tumarae). After the project, we had crepes, and we had pancakes! :D We spent the rest of the day with president. The morning we did some study with him and then for about 5 or 6 hours, we worked on the transfer. Sister Bize made BURRITOS!!! :D

 

Thursday night, we got to do a Family Night with some of our investigators

Wednesday, we found out that Elder Pearson, who was coming down for the Stake Conference of Papeete, had a few hours free, and wanted to talk to the missionaries. So, we organized a quick mission conference Friday morning, and we got to hear him talk for 2 hours! He talked about the holy ghost, and it was really amazing. It's the 3rd time I have gotten to see him in the mission, and every time I learn more and more. We're pretty lucky in the mission that everyone can be gathered within an hour or so (except the companionships in the islands, who watch by Internet), and we can do these types of conferences. It has really been a treat.

Saturday, we got to hear him again during the night sessions of Stake Conference. Elder Taylor and I got to go with President, and the talks that night were great. President even gave a talk, and it was awesome. He had the whole crowd laughing, and had all of their attention. He really is a great speaker, and has the honor and respect of the members and missionaries here. He reminds me of Dad when he gives talks. Very enthusiastic, and makes good points.

Sunday was another session of conference, and they we had the chance to have a dinner with President, and Elder and Sister Taylor of NZ (not to be confused with my companion Elder Taylor) They came down to talk about the health of missionaries in the mission. They have a special call, and tour the pacific area, and E Taylor is in charge of the mental health of missionaries. He is here to talk about stress, and will give some presentations in the next few days. Right after their plane got here, we took them to a concert! The stakes here, under the direction of Elder Tarati (our local 70), are doing a missionary choir. The members are singing a concert, with the purpose of inviting investigators and non members, and then inviting them to come to church, and take lessons. It was an amazing concert, and holly cow, they sang sooo well. It was almost professional, with all the best singers from Tahiti, and some really special arraignments. I love music, and being able to hear it was just like a spiritual re-charge for me. And, lucky me, I will be able to go again, seeing as my companion's testimony is on the program :D

I'll send a pic of the concert, and dinner last night.

I'm going to send some pictures now, and then I will write a bit more later if I have time.

Anyways, that is a large summary of this week. I hope you liked the Gay va vay story :P I sure did

Have a good week all, and thanks for the support. I look up to you, and I am proud of you, my family. We have an ETERNAL unit! We are an Eternal Family! MANUIA! (success!)

I love you!
Have a good week!

-Brigham

 

B-Ball Last P-Day

Service Project Thursday

Our ward's youth, at Stake Conference :D

Us at the concert last night

Dinner Last night :D Sister Warner (the mission nurse) made BBQ chicken and POTATOES!! Also in the picture are President and Sister TEFAN (Temple President!) I got to sit next to them and talk with President Tefan. They are great people :D

This Week Has Been a Whirlwind

This week has been a whirlwind. Things are going by really fast.

Tuesday was a very special day. My old WML from Vairao, who was baptized by my companion, Elder Taylor a few months before, went to the temple! We got to accompany him and his wife, and elder Taylor was his escort :) It was a cool day, and we were there for their own endowments, and for their sealing. It was the first sealing I have ever seen, and I really thought it was a simple, beautiful ordinance. In the temple, I think I was the most awake and captive of the teachings, that I have ever been in my life, except for maybe the first time. I really appreciated the chance to go, and I really remembered why I love the temple. I felt a strong feeling of closeness to my Heavenly Father, and I had images in my mind of leaving the pre-earth life. How important Christ's role is for us, and our Father had HUGE trust in Him and in us. He trusted Him because all the people he was sending down, to forget, would be completely lost without him, and he trusts us to find his son, and to use his Atonement to get back. I thought about the conversations we had as I left for my mission, and I think about the conversations we must have had with Father, right before leaving his presence. It was just a special trip to the temple. And it was a tender mercy, that before Mom had her scope, I got to put her name in the temple :)

Wednesday, Elder Taylor and I taught some lessons, then we did a split with the Zone Leaders of PAEA. I was with elder White, from Provo, and Elder Taylor was with his companion. E White is a super great missionary, and I had a good time with him. We had a ward missionary coordination meeting, and we did some lessons together. Wednesday night, we made what has to be the highest cholesterol meal I have ever made. Spaghetti and sauce, but with TONS of cheese in the sauce. It turned out really yummy, like a hot, sticky, noodlely lasagna. It was really good. Elder White and I had fun, and in meeting him more, I found out he loves fishing and hunting too. Had a good time, and learned from him.

Thursday, we ended the split so that Elder Taylor and I could have a meeting with president. It was a good meeting, and we had dinner with them. President whipped up some crepes, and we had crepes and jam. We were all surprised by the quality of the crepes, including sr Bize, and we chuckled a bit about that. President has such a dynamic personality, and makes people laugh so easily. I am so lucky to learn from them, and spend so much time with them. They are such good people.

Friday, was Halloween. :P We had the coolest zone meeting ever. My companion gave a training, involving a blindfold, a maze of chairs in the RS room, and pin the tail on the donkey. It was a great object lesson, and we had lots of fun, and then all felt the spirit and were all involved as the spiritual part was shared. We had a great day of lessons, and doing office chores. Then at the end of the day, we ate with a member family, and had McD's pumpkin pies for dessert....! :D That was a great surprise. :P One of the perks about being in the city.

Saturday we had a baptism, a young woman in our ward, and a young boy. The parents of the boy were re-activated, so that his dad could baptize him. It was really a sweet ceremony.

Sunday, we picked President up from the airport, and did some lessons, before going to the temple garden concert (it rained so the moved the concert into our chapel). We had a good day.

That's about all for this week. I will send a few pictures. In all, it was a great week, and I am very happy to be here. I will miss being a missionary, and I will miss Tahiti. Good thing I still have 9 months here! Gotta use EVERY minute of it, like Elder Gifford told us in his meetings.

I love you so much!!! Thanks for everything, and have a good week my family! I'm gonna go talk at a baptism next door, in the ward of Papeete 2. I love you guys!!!!

Brigham

Zone Conference

One of Our Baptisms

Our Vairao WML and his wife at the temple right before they got their ordinances. I really liked the light behind the temple. :)

This Week Was a Great Week

This week was a great week.

Monday and Tuesday, like I said last week, were with Elder Nielsen; and Wednesday we got to have lots of time in our sector.

Thursday and Friday were filled with office tasks, and lessons, and a nice meeting with President. We have had some awesome miracles this week, and have had a lot of investigators changing. Two marriages fixed in this last week, and three or four baptisms. Woohoo!

Saturday, we got up to take an Elder to the doctors (he's been stuffed up for a while now) and we went with the senior couple Warner. Sister Warner takes care of the health in the mission, and Elder Warner is in charge of the visitors center here. It was really fun to be with them, and they surprised me and took us to get pizza at a place in Papeete :D  I told pretty much no-one that it was my b-day, but lots of missionaries found out anyways :P

The Warners are like foster Grandparents, and talking with them reminded me of you, and was a special birthday treat. Saturday night we had TACOs! A family here made them (it is like the LEAST likely thing to find in Polynesia) without knowing it was my B-Day; that was a special treat too! In all it was just a fun, happy B-day, and I really enjoyed it. We had some good lessons too!

Sunday, we had a fireside concert with songs and a little program all about the plan of salvation. A lot of people (non-members and members) came, and I really loved the songs. Not all of them were hymns, and it was just nice and well done.

I am getting a headache, I've been looking at the screen for a while, and I think I will send you some pictures in stead of typing too much more. I'm having a rough time typing, but don't worry about me, I am fine. Sorry if today's email is a bit short

This morning we played Beach soccer! It was loads of fun, and the whole zone came. We even got the couple Teinauri to come (senior proselyting couple from here). I'll send a pic or two from that.

Thanks for all your support and love! I love you guys sooo much! Thanks for being my family, and for praying for me, for supporting me, and for helping me. I had a great week, and I have only 9 months left. :/ It has been flying by, and I am just so happy to be here. I hope I am doing all I can, and that my best is good enough.

HAVE a good week!
I love you all!

Brigham

Zone activity :D

Our new convert and his son. Great people :D

Cranes at the huge Papeete marina. It is really cool (I feel like a little boy looking at them).

The Evansons, a couple who just came here to work a 6 month temple mission. He (Elder Evanson) has been a mission president, a temple pres, couples mission in the CONGO, and lots of other cool service opportunities. Should be a great help to the temple. We got to meet them Saturday.

A photo of a ferry to Moorea (80X zoom :P)

B-day cupcakes for our monthly zone reunion (Sr Naylor and Martin made them. They are our STLs, and Sr Naylor was in my district au MTC) It was Sr Kuhn's b-day, sr Tetua's b-day, and mine in the same week.

Beach Soccer :D

A Picture of Today.  LOVELY park.

Elder Nielsen Visit

This has been an adventure!

Thanks for the patience on the day late emails... :P It was for good reason though! We have been with Elder Nielsen, and have had so many amazing opportunities this week.

Friday, we met Elder Nielsen, and that morning we took him and President, and their wives to a small press conference. There were two reporters, and the church public affairs group, so it was pretty simple. It was in the stake center next to our house ( in the same parking lot) and I was really impressed by Elder Nielsen's humility, but respectful boldness. He is a big guy, and makes quite an impression next to the shorter Polynesian people. During the simple conference he had E Taylor and I answer a few questions (O_O) It was fun.

Then, this weekend, he went to the island of Tubuai, and got back Sunday. Sunday night we were with him, and some missionaries that finish, and the couples missionaries. He had a Q&A session with all present, and it was SO COOL to hear his testimony, and to hear his amazing experiences with the Prophet, and the other brethren. His testimony is very powerful.

Then, Monday, we had some conferences. A big, multi-zone conference the morning, and then in the evening we had a FHE/Leadership counsel (with all the ZL's and DL's, and STL's). I conducted that meeting (nervous...) and it went pretty well. Elder Taylor was really nice, and knowing it was my first conducting (like ever) he ran me through everything and helped me get ready. I am lucky to have a good companion like him :D

After that meeting, Elder Taylor and I got to eat with E Nielsen. A lovely French soup, with bread and salad. It was a really good, simple meal, and during the meal we discussed with elder Nielsen, about the mission, and how things are going. It was cool, and I was really impressed by how much he listens, and values the opinions of others. He's not here to lecture, or to read us the rules, but to listen to us and to give us direct help, and teach according to the needs of the missionaries. He is a very good leader. It was awesome.

Today, we had a second multi-zone conf (with the other half of the missionaries here on the main island). I got to see a lot of my buddies, like Elder Squiers, Elder Millett, Elder White, and some other missionaries you don't know. I was fun, and the trainings were good a second time over. I felt lucky being in two times the meetings with him, and getting to hear the differences in the meetings as he followed the Spirit to adjust the teachings. Same with Sister Wendy. She is really nice too, and has the funnest attitude. She teaches well too.

That's what the weekend has been like. I forgot that the beginning of this week we did a major transfer... Feels like that ways a WHILE ago. Things go really fast, but looking back we have been getting more done in days, than I probably would have expected in a weeks. Elder Taylor is someone who ACTS, and doesn't quit or run outta gas. It has been a nice chance to serve with him. Driving the Toyota Hiace has been an other adventure too. Skinny little Tahiti roads, and the awkward van. Its fun though :P

I'm gonna send some pictures.

Me, Elder Welegtabit from Vanuatu and Elder Peterson. They are awesome people. Elder W's first time at McD's..... :D

Taken last night. Elder Nielsen is a big man, and I am actually about as tall as him, it's just that his shoulder is over mine, took the top arm. Either way, he is a spiritual giant. Such a cool chance I have had.

Anyways, that is about it for this week. I know that the church is true, and I am thrilled to be here and to know I am where the Lord wants me to be. I really have been thinking more and more about that, and about how lucky we as missionaries are, to have that assurance. I need to stick with the Holy Ghost after my mission, and always try and be where and what the Lord wants me to be. I am just happy knowing that the Lord wants me as a missionary in Tahiti, right now. I find great satisfaction, and happiness in that. As I look back on the different parts of my mission so far, I am just THRILLED to be here.

Again, I love you!

Have a good week!

Brigham

Photo Essay

Gonna send some photos first to describe today, and this week, then write more after photos.

Elder Petis's group from the MTC, left today. They served their two years, and so we had their release meeting at the mission home today. I am so happy that Elder Petis will always be a good friend. A very nice man!

Today, I HAD TACOS!!! Sister Clawson made the Tacos, and real home-made enchiladas.... SOOOO goood. First real Mexican food in a while :P

A Deacon in our ward.

This weekend we had a baptism! Shout hooray! (to the tune of you've had a Birthday, hehehehe)
Actually we had 3.... coolest service I've ever seen! 
The young man is L___, the old one is the man who got married and his wife was baptized a few weeks ago, and the middle aged one is V___. He is an awesome guy too. They have all changed tons, and I LOVE THESE PEOPLE! The service was really powerful, with three baptisms, the Papeete region (all of Tahiti's) LDS choir, and President and Sr. Bize

Also this Saturday, we had a YM YW missionary day! We did surveys (door to door survey approaches) withe the young men, and the sisters did with the young women. It was awesome. We got about 50 names, and 30 people accepted to receive a visit. It was pretty awesome. Fun to go on a split with a deacon and the YM President (he is the one right next to me)

During the week this week, we showed President the houses of missionaries all over the island, We had hamburgers and fries a few time this week.

The burgers were at a place called Beach Burger. Elder Clark and I drove by it all the time, thinking how cool it'd be to stop there. We went with President, and it wasn't that bad, but the burger was cooked on the grill with fish i think, Makes for an interesting after taste.

There's the Photo essay of this week.

Things went well. I am doing well, and I am happy to be a missionary. I'm still learning what it's like to be a missionary, and I am still making mistakes, and progress. In doing the work I am finding joy.

This week we spent lots of time with President. I really look up to him and Sister Bize. Fun people, who are strong strong strong, in the Gospel.

This week for my studies, I read the whole book of Philippians. Super good book, letter by the Apostle Paul. The more I read the epistles, the more I feel the value of my covenants. Not sure if that makes a lot of sense, but it does for me. There's a talk by D Todd Christofferson, which I'm gonna study some more this week called the Power of Covenants ( https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/the-power-of-covenants?lang=eng ) When I read the epistles, I think of the quote in his talk "Make you covenants paramount''. For these apostles, their covenants were paramount, BUT I am convinced that the importance of covenants was de-highlighted by the translations of the Bible. It doesn't come straight out, but in reading the New Testament, several times I have felt this. I am soo happy to have made holy covenants, and feel the same confidence as the apostles who said they were soldiers for Christ (2 Tim 2:3) I really love the book of Philippians.

We'll that is about all for this week.

I love you my family!!!

Brigham

PS, thanks for the mail, and all the support, I LOVE YOU ALL!

Nothing Is Better Than This Mission Right Now

Hi!

This week was a good week.

This week, we finished all our zone conferences, woohoo! Now we can be in the sector a bit more, and we have the time to prepare for the transfers here in the mission. We've been working with President on them, but have not yet finished. It's a lot different, seeing how it happens, and seeing to what extent that President really knows ALL the missionaries, and is doing his very best to understand where they should go, and who they can become, It is a pretty cool process, and I just feel lucky to participate.

Monday, we had an awesome experience going to the hospital, and giving some blessings. Elder Taylor and I took elder Jessop, and elder Tumarae (Papeete's ZLs, who live with us), to the hospital so we could give several blessings. I took elder Tumarae, and we had just a name to go visit; it was someone from Sister Naylor's old ward in Raiataia, and she told us that he'd come to the hospital, but had no idea where he was at, or in what state. We showed up to the front desk hoping to find the receptionist, but it turns out they leave at like 5. So elder Tumarae and I poked arround the hospital a bit  looking for a receptionist or nurse, and eventually wound up talking to a nurse who took us to his room. We were 'lucky' (blessed by the spirit) enough to have found the guy, and then he was super touched by the blessing. It was a really cool experience for me, that the spirit took us to him, and that he wanted the blessing badly. He'd received a large operation, and had lots of recuperation to do.

Tuesday was mostly spent in the office, and prepping for the transfers. Wednesday and Thursday were the final two zone conferences. They went well, and our formation ( I think one says Training in english) was well received. We had talked about the sacred nature of our call, we made copies of everyone's call letter then cited it as scripture. It was a good formation, and it helped me and elder Taylor at least, remember our calls.

Friday we had lessons, and our weekly zone meeting. It was a great day, and we had a marriage of two of our new converts. They separated before their baptisms yeah, SEPARATED (instead of married), and then prepared to be married, responsible people. It was cool, because they are much happier now, and they really showed their level of conversion and faith in obeying the laws and sincerely repenting, not just marring so they could be baptized. Any ways, it was a great marriage, and they looked really happy. Made me think of Cherise! Getting SEALED! so cool!

Saturday and Sunday, general conference was AWESOME! It is pretty much like Christmas for missionaries. Seriously though, we were all stoked, and seeing it in English was nice too. I got a cold I think, and have been stuffy, and a bit groggy since the Sunday morning session, but I shall be fine.
During conference I felt the spirit very strongly, and just realized more and more how happy I am to be a missionary, and a member of the church. I know the church is true, and am a happy, member!

We got to watch Priesthood with President Bize. We took him to our stake center so he could see it (net crashed at his house), and afterwards we ate with him and Sister Bize. It has been fun to get to know them, and learn from and love them and their examples. They are such very nice people.

So, that is one charged day to day report of the week. :P I am tired after our fun zone activity today, but happy to write you guys! I love you all so very much and I cant wait to see you again, but I know I will. Its now been 1 year in Tahiti (as of tomorrow.... yikes) and on the 24th, I will have been out for 15 months. I think you have no idea how fast things are going. I can not believe this. I am happy to be here, and the more settled in I feel, or the more used to missionary work I get, the faster it happens. I am just happy to serve, and I hope that meaningful, and lasting fruits will come from our labors. I feel so very blessed, and can not imagine a better thing to do. Even though hunting or fishing or disc golf or dirt biking sounds sooo fun, I realize that NOTHING is better than this mission right now. I am exactly where heavenly Father wants me right now, and I have the assurance that if I do my best, I am in the green. If I put in my all, no matter how much or little my all equals, I will come out on top, and beyond that, Heavenly Father will bless you guys, and me, and people in Tahiti. This really is just the coolest thing, ever. I feel so lucky, and so blessed. I am very happy, and doing well. Again, I love you SOOO MUCH, and I think of you, and pray for you all daily. Thanks for the mail and prayers too :D

Have a good week, and thanks for everything. I love you!

Brigham

Letter from the Mission Office

[Dated August 18, Received October 4]

August 18, 2014


Dear Brother and Sister Larsen;

It was our pleasure to have recently been introduced to Elder Larsen. We are happy to be here in the Tahiti Papeete Mission with your missionary and look forward to serving with him in hastening the work of the Savior in this part of the world. The experiences that your son will have while serving here in Tahiti will bless him throughout the rest of his life and we are grateful to be a part of this work. Please be assured that we will love him as though he were our own. May the Lord bless you and your family in the support of your son.

We have enclosed a photo that was taken at our first meeting with the missionaries.

Sincerely,
President Pierre Francois
Bize Sister Brigitte Bize
Tahiti Papeete Mission