Week Twenty

Yes the dentist went well.  He just unscrewed my implants. put bigger ones in, made a mold, screwed them back in, and now the crowns can be made. Surprisingly it didn't hurt at all.

I was planning on going to Sister Monson's funeral but I didn't find out about my appointment until yesterday.  Elder Andersen drove me because Elder Brandon went to the funeral.  Elder Andersen is going to be the new young elder director because the Brandons are leaving in June (which is really depressing.)  Elder Andersen is still learning but I think he'll do a good job. There's a picture of him in the latest Ensign. Look at page 54 during "The Power of the Priesthood in a Boy" talk and you can see him hugging his grandson.

Yes I got the stamps, thank you very much they must have been expensive.  I only have the tiny envelopes and I've been meaning to buy the bigger ones but I keep forgetting.  The only paper I need is my art paper, which should be in the box next to my desk in my room because I forgot to bring it.  (Send me 'Mastering Manga' as well.  I want to see if I can get it approved.  Because Elder Brandon keeps telling me I should practice my drawing and that should help.)

I'm glad Becca is doing well and glad that Janetta is still...Janetta...I guess.  Wish I could have seen it.

Yeah Katie would have something like that happen to her and not tell you about it.  Any dog that bites someone needs to be reported and I think they put them on the vicious dog list.  At worst he can end up losing his dog.  It's sad but if the dog goes nuts again what if he attacks a little girl or something?

Well if that's what you meant than yes, elders can and do serve in more than one zone.  All elders have a nightzone if they aren't in a fulltime zone (like mine.)  Elder McCarty who is in my zone goes and helps the youth conferences that are held at the JSMB in the afternoons, that zone is called the Family Search Center zone.  And even Elder Davis who is now an AP comes back to his original zone (my zone) in the evening.

They don't tell the missionaries when they'll be released I just happened to look at the chart.  Everything is well organized around here so we have to know when elders are leaving so we can fill in the spots for next month for the new elders.  I'll go ahead and tell you though because this news seems to upset you and I'll go ahead and explain:  Ever elder knows that they are released at the end of the month, before the month they came into the mission.  And you can find the exact date just by looking at the chart in the mission office.  I'm set to be released on December 19, 2014.  So umm yeah, surprise!  Happy Birthday in 2014 Dad I hope you find that a good present!  January elders are always considered the luckiest because they only have to miss one Christmas away from the family while on their mission.

My week went well.  On Monday in District Meeting I prepared a talk that the other elders said was really good.  I can attach the talk if you want, it's called "You Are Who You Choose To Be."

On Tuesday I went to the annual Family and Church History Department Devotional which is held in the Conference Center Theater, the speaker is always an apostle and this year it was Elder Richard G. Scott. I got in there real early and was told I can sit anywhere I want so I sat right in front of the podium, so I was like 5 feet away from him the whole time he was talking.  I don't remember much what he talked about (he talked about how sacred temple ordinances are and quoted from D&C 132 a lot) but I do remember he told the funniest joke at the beginning.  He says, "Let me tell you all a secret.  Do you want to know a guaranteed way to wake up with a smile on your face every morning?  You go to bed with a coat hanger in your mouth the night before."  Once the talk was over he passed by me and I shook his hand.  He asked me where I was from and I said, "The distant land of American Fork, Utah."  He told me that that's a great place and then asked me what part of town and I said, "On the border of Highland near Legacy Elementary if you know where that is."  And he said that he does know where that is.  So let it be known that an apostle knows what part of American Fork I live in.

On Wednesday I scanned every page of every book that Grandma sent to me regarding her family history.  So I got it all digitized and I can send it back to her now, if I knew how to send a package properly.  I've been adding stories and pictures on FamilySearch if you've been noticing.

Also I don't know if you've been watching the falcons lately but one of the eggs hatched!  I even got pictures of the parents feeding the baby!

Cute little baby falcon

Daddy brought in food and Mommy is taking it from him

Elder Sy randomly sent these pictures to me.  It's from January at my first hail and farewell.  I really like the look on my face in this picture.

I can't remember what I was saying, but it was probably funny because Elder Smith and Elder Ungerman are laughing.

Here are all the young elders in the British Zone from L to R: Elder Davis, Elder McCarty, Some Dork With a Union Jack in His Pocket, and Elder Menke who just recently joined us in April.  This wasn't taken by my camera, I had to get it sent to me and I finally got it.

My next appointment for the dentist is on June 18, so I guess I'll finally have a smile then.  I already told everyone that I'd have teeth today but like always I got confused and didn't know which appoint was doing what to me.

I also just remembered that I finally passed off Ireland in my training, which means I am now fully certified to help all patrons on the floor.  Let it be known that that's how long it took to complete my training, the British Zone is tough.  (Also there's optional Australia training that I'll do in a couple of months.)

I've run out of time, see you later,

Elder Larson