Week Fifty Three and Fifty Four

I forgot to post Eric's message from last week, so you get two for the price of one this week.

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In response to Molly's suggestion that Eric keep a small notebook or scrap of paper to write down things as he thinks of them:

I got that idea even before you told me somehow so I got some little notes organized in my planner here.

The keyboard box was gigantic so carrying that home was really fun (yes I had to get it at the JSMB.)  But the good news is we have a gigantic box to play in at the apartment now.  (I was able to fit myself in it with the lid closed to give you an idea about how big it is.)  It's harder to play than my roommate's keyboard but it's still much lighter and easier to carry around. 

Yes I got some pictures now of the quilt because I forgot to send them before:

I look so happy.

I somehow managed to create this mess, both those knots were tied without pulling the yarn through, that's Elder Andersen trying to help.

This one was during the night and everyone was dressed casual because they were playing sports.  A few of us were still diligently quilting like real men because they hadn't been finished yet.  I'm doing this on purpose this time.

Also a couple of Saturdays ago was my year mark in case you noticed, because I didn't until the people in my group told me we were going out to eat to celebrate it.  (Well I sort of did but then I forgot on the week of.)  We went to eat at some place called JB's which happens to be right next to the library.  Here's a picture of our group:

Left to right: Elder R. Smith, Elder Earl, Elder Me, Elder Liddiard, and Elder Ungerman.

Our companions were there but we wanted a picture with just us.

I took notes so I'm looking at them now...

There was another Hail and Farewell yesterday.  Elder Davis is leaving next month and I'm kind of sad about that but here's a picture of us and a photo bomber:

On Sunday my apartment and another apartment got together and combined two Monopoly boards and played it like it was one big one.  It was kind of weird because one of them was a Beatles themed Monopoly (The Yellow  Submarine Movie to be exact) and a Sonic the Hedgehog Monopoly board.  So we had to come up with a crazy system so that we didn't mix up the money.

Elder Pickering's Mom sent him two more Piano Guys CDs to match the ones she already sent him because she evidently forgot that she bought some for him already, so my companion gave them to me which was nice of him.

I keep forgetting to tell you that I've been teaching classes about British Genealogy lately for my zone.  We have a different topic every week like Ireland Church Records or whatever and I have a power point presentation and that's how that works.

I actually wrote this part on Thursday because I had an adventure with a chiropractor on Thursday:

Today I had an interesting experience at the chiropractor.  On Thursday morning right before my leadership meeting I told Elder Andersen that my shoulders and neck were in great pain and that I probably needed to see a chiropractor.  He surprised me when he picked up the phone right there and called the chiropractor he takes some of the other elders to, and then told me we would be going that day at 3:00.  The first initial problem with this is that I still don’t have an insurance card so I keep having to write it down on a piece of paper and then when I bring it it never seems to work.  But whatever.

When we got to the chiropractor (lots of snow, it was Thursday), I gave the information on the card and was told that they can’t get it to come up but don’t worry we’ll figure it out later.  Since this was my first time I had to fill out loads of paperwork which is the norm these days so it wasn't anything new to me. 

Anyway, after filling out roughly five pages I gave it to the receptionist and she brought me into the back into this little room with a little tv.  She said that I was just going to watch this little video and then the doctor will come in to talk to me.  So I watched this 15 minute video from the 90’s about how  chiropractic work is safe and that chiropractors are very well educated and that chiropractic work is very popular these days, and the good news is that most insurances cover it (but if it doesn't then get out.)  Then I got to watch lots of people with bright smiling faces get their backs cracked. 
After the video ended the doctor came in.  Spiked hair, rolled up sleeves, a beard, he’s not just a doctor, he’s a cool doctor!  He then proceeds to ask me what’s wrong and gets me to go through all the information I had just previously written down.  I saw him holding the papers that I filled out but meh who reads those?  He then tells me that his assistant is going to perform several tests on me because he wants to help me, but they got to figure out exactly what’s wrong with me.  Here I’m thinking, “My neck and my shoulders hurt what more do you need to know?” but I went ahead and did it because I remember something in the papers about how I consented to let them test me or something. 

I had to then move my neck around and then say where it does and doesn't hurt, get my reflexes checked, and then I had to put on a gown so they could take x-rays of me.  Yeah.  This all took about 45 minutes.  After it was finally all done the doctor came back and said to come back within a week because they need to analyze all the tests they did on me.  Yep, that’s it.  No adjustments whatsoever.  Just come back in a week and be sure to bring your insurance.

Anyway after I told all this to Elder Andersen he was not happy.  I don’t know if this is necessarily true, but was a lawyer and therefore thinks like a lawyer and he’s convinced that the clinic is just putting me in a cycle so they can milk my insurance.  I’m going to go back in two weeks to see  them once more to see if the tests prove I have scoliosis or something and to see if they actually mess with my neck but if they don’t then we’re going to find a new chiropractor.

So I think that's all I got and hopefully it's enough.

Love,
Elder Larson

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In response to Molly's question about the box being a toy:

No we're currently using the box to toss all our recyclables in it. 

Elder Ungerman told me that my friend Christian said hi on Sunday.  I still haven't gotten anything from him in written form yet.  And he didn't run into me because he wasn't on B2 I assume because I spend all day locked up in the dungeon. 

I don't go back to the chiropractor until this Thursday.  Elder Andersen was out of town last week so I had no one to take me and I had to reschedule. 

I really want Adventure Time Monopoly because that exists apparently.  Elder Pickering told me that the cheapest property you can buy is LSP's Hobo Camp. 

I haven't seen Dr. Yamashiro since I got my retainer.  I probably have a follow up appointment but it wasn't going to be until for a while I guess. 

Everything was closed yesterday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  (The sign on the library said it was going to close for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Which I find kind of inaccurate because I'm pretty sure he was a Dr. Reverend.)  On Thursday during our leadership meeting President Workman surprised us all when he told us that we were all as a mission going to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit going on at The Leonardo right now for MLK Day.  (DRMLKJR Day)

So that's what I did yesterday.  The exhibit mainly consists of a ton of clay pots dated from the time of the Kingdom of Israel, or the Babylonian Captivity, or the Persian Captivity, or whatever.  There are some more interesting things like a bunch of clay figurines of idols found kind of proving that the Bible was right when it says that the wacky Israelites were always  falling into the temptation of idolatry.  And they had some pure silver Roman coins found in Jerusalem around the time of Christ, which I kind of found the most interesting.  The scrolls themselves were only about ten or so tiny fragments which had been translated as various passages from the Old Testament.  The rest of the actually good scrolls are currently in Jerusalem because they're still analyzing it and finding new things about it.  The handwriting on them are surprisingly legible and meticulously written and it's amazing that we have records this old that you can actually read.  (Well I can't read it because I don't understand the language but you know what I mean.)  I don't have any pictures because The Leonardo doesn't allow any photography for whatever dumb reason.  (Probably because they want you to pay the $20 per person fee first so you can find out that the exhibit is mostly just a bunch of boring clay pots for yourself.)

During Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday I'm pretty sure I caught myself on tv a couple of times in the background.  Even if I wasn't in it I definitely saw Elder Pickering.  He was caught in a really embarrassing shot because he was like tucking in his shirt or something.  I sit in the corner where the upright basses and the piano was so there was a lot of camera attention there.  I like sitting there because there's a tv there that shows the broadcast and I like to look at the visuals. 

You know I'm still debating about whether I should play the cello or the bass.  I think I like the bass better because the sounds it make are more epic to me.  The Piano Guys are cool but me wanting to play the cello has nothing to do with them.  I just really like watching the orchestra and I just think it's a beautiful instrument is all.

I do have a [few] pictures though, I got some pine cones:

These aren't just any pine cones, these are pine cones from the Cedar of Lebanon in Temple Square.  I've been wanting to get some pine cones from it for some time but they were too high but they put lights on the cedar this year and as they were taking them off some fell down so I was able to get some.  I want to see if I can open them and get the seeds and then attempt to make a sapling.  Then I can begin trying to grow a biblical tree.

The air in Salt Lake City is so terrible right now.  The Church told all employees and missionaries on campus that we're currently #6 in the top polluted cities in America right now, and that the air level is estimated to shorten our lives by about two years.  So I took a picture of it:

And while I was at Walmart today I took a picture of the pigeons

 

They usually perch on the ledge lower but I guess enough customers complained recently about it so they put some spikes there.  The pigeons response?  Perch on the higher ledge.  I found this funny I guess.

Love, Elder Larson

P.S.-  My CD player broke.

 

Week Fifty Two

Eric has been on his mission for a year now, but he didn't have much to say this week.

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I'm sorry I'm always so burned out and tired that I never remember what I want to say or what I should say.

Peppermint oil is a natural decongestant and it keeps my breath smelling fresh all day.  It can also be used as a natural pesticide but I haven't had to use it for that yet.  I can't buy it at Wal-mart but I had an apartment mate that had some and I liked it very much so I wanted some.  I really liked the Iron Giant toy but I'm not allowed to play with it because we were told that elders with toys sent to them should pack them away.  I didn't know that that was what the Aquabats! threw out and I had been looking for that answer for a while now so thanks.  I also opened it because I wanted to shoot the missile then I realized that this thing was pretty vintage and that opening it would make it lose its value but oh well too late. 

I don't wear the Batman to bed because I get super hot when I sleep for some reason.  I always wake up with sweat everywhere even with a shirt and shorts.

I don't have that manual but I've read it online a couple of times and I'm sure it will help.  The keyboard is the perfect weight for someone on a mission and it works for me.  I just wish that my new apartment mate Elder Robinson didn't go out and buy himself a keyboard last Saturday.

On New Year's Eve we watched Ephraim's Rescue, which is a very good movie.  Watch it if you have the chance it's like our ancestors: the movie.  And I finished one quilt and almost got done with the other quilt.

Love,
Elder Larson

Week Fifty One

We talked to Eric for an hour on Christmas Day. Because o f that conversation, I guess Eric didn't have much to say to us this week.

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In response to Molly's question, "What are you doing on New Year's Day?":

We're going to be quilting.

We've already done it a little bit [of quilting] but this time we're doing it at our Stake Center. 

I didn't really get to say anything I wanted to say but that's probably because I can never remember what I want to say when it's my time to say something.  My release date is changing and it's not going to be 12/19/2014 anymore.  That's what I was trying to say.

It's an okay razor (the razor Eric got for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman) but it started making weird noises like after the 3rd time I started using it.  It still works as well as it did when I opened it though.  I forgot to tell Grandpa that I'm not allowed to use aftershave on my mission.

Thanks for sending me the other stuff.  I already knew my license was expiring on my birthday but I always thought the mission would take me to the dmv or something because you have to have an active ID of some sort while you're out. 

I got my pictures right here:

"I'm Batman," says Eric as he models his new pajamas.

Because of his new Batman pajamas, Eric says, "I'm a legend in this mission."

Week Fifty

Christmas Eve 2013 and a new message from Eric.

Molly asked Eric what time we can expect him to call on Christmas Day. We wish he could have been more clear...

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Dear Mom,

Thank you so much for your patience regarding my late info for calling you at 9:00 AM MST tomorrow.  The call tomorrow will take place at 9:00 AM MST tomorrow because two elders had to change their times due to conflicts with when their families can hear them.  But I knew that you guys could probably be very flexible with the time because you would be there all morning anyways, (specifically at 9:00 AM MST.)

Thank you for explaining the present things to me because either I'm crazy or I remember reading something about like getting presents from the Aquabats! and then sending one to me or something.  Maybe I just mixed two different sentences from two different paragraphs because I have such a bad memory.  But don't worry, you can explain it to me very slowly tomorrow when I call at 9:00 AM MST.

I didn't know Bro. Slack and Bro. Anderson were released from being counselors.  When did that happen?  I guess you can tell me when I call tomorrow at 9:00 AM MST.  Do you want to be a YM leader?  I'm just curious because unless emotions don't translate well through plain text with a period at the end then you sound a little disappointed.  I'm sure you can tell me that too tomorrow during the hour of 9:00 AM MST, which is when I will be calling, if you didn't know.

Good heavens when did Neko get so fat?  Seriously he wasn't that big when I left, was he?  His legs looks so chubby!  And look at all that fat! 9:00 AM MST!

I got some really cool pictures of the beauty of winter before everything got soggy and and gross from all the pollution and car exhaust and stuff:

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The view from my apartment on Thursday.  It snowed all day and the entire Church campus closed because of all the snow.
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 The Temple on Friday morning.
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This was on Friday later in the day.
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And this was package-geddon. Or the packocaclypse.
A

The British tree.
M

Oh and you'll all be impressed.  I managed to get a picture of someone famous that isn't blurry.  I'm also in the picture with him.
M
This is Nathan Pacheco.  The 2013 Pioneer Day Concert guest-artist.  He was in the crowd and I scoped him out because I have his CD and stuff.
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This week was pretty interesting.  I told you about the snow day thing.  That was crazy. 
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I don't9 have: much0 time0 forA e-mailingM becauseM theS libraryT is closed for Christmas Eve so I'm doing it at the mission office. 

So I can't think of anything else to tell you but I will talk to you tomorrow at 9:00 AM MST. 

Love,
Elder Larson

Week Forty Nine

Yes I got into the Christmas Concert because Elder Davis had like 32 tickets because he told his mom to get everyone in his ward to apply for tickets and then send them to him.  I didn't really like the singer either, I don't think she has the right voice to sing Christmas songs, plus she had a really bad music selection.  I did enjoy John Rhys-Davis though.  And Richard Elliot.  Not even flying can beat the candy bomber though.

I opened all the packages I got so far except for the wrapped presents so I started using the razor the day I got it.  Now I'm a bit confused, did you say the first tiny presents I got were from you or just he big ones with your name and Becca's name.  So I'm confused because I'm not sure where the first two presents came from.

It looks like it's just going to be me and Elder Pickering in that apartment until January. 

Well since you told me a cooking adventure I'll go ahead and tell you the one I had the other night. 

I've been making what I call protein smoothies which is whey protein powder, frozen fruits (I have a freezer filled with various frozen fruits which is driving my companion crazy), and whole milk, in a blender.  The other night I remembered that I bought egg nog in the fridge so the brilliant idea clicked in my head that I could use that in it too.  Then I remembered that I had a candy cane so I put that in there too.  Long story short, I broke the blender.

I've got some pictures of the Christmas Concert, or where I was sitting anyway:

Being up really high wasn't that bad because I could look at all the dancing at once.

And I took this picture early in the morning on Monday:

I'm having a really hard time thinking of things to say because I've been so burned out lately. 

Thanks to everyone for the presents and stuff.  And thanks for the book.

Love,
Elder Larson

Week Forty Eight

Umm...so I'm just now being told to send a testimony because you just now got the assignment or have you just been putting it off and forgot to tell me the day before it was due?  I guess it works out because I was working on a thank you letter for the deacons and laurels because I got their package.  I also got a package from Grandma and Grandpa.  I also got a package from you guys with the CD and wrapped packages.  Are those the packages from the Christmas Concert or were you talking about something else?  I'm happy with the CD but I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't include the story they told about the Candy Bomber (as narrated by Tom Brokaw...read that in Tom Brokaw's voice.)  The story about the Candy Bomber is one of the most epic things I've ever seen so I'm surprised they didn't include it in the CD because they usually do include the story portion of the concert in the CD. 

I applied for tickets for this year's Christmas Concert but was not chosen since tickets are in such high demand.  Which is disappointing because they're going to have flipping John Rhys-Davies as the narrator (Gimli the Dwarf).  But the good news is that if I get in the stand-by line early enough (like two hours early) I'm guaranteed to get in.  The line isn't like a standing line either thankfully, they have you sit in the Tabernacle.  And in case you don't get in they have big screens that you can watch the concert on so I'm going to do that. 

But yes, quite the week for me.  Christmas is definitely closing up on us.  Temple Square is covered in decorations of all sorts.  Snow is falling frequently and the sirens are blaring just as frequently due to all the accidents on the interstate.  And the mail is getting scarier and scarier. 

The most interesting thing that happened this week is that my district got rearranged for the new month (I think I said that last time.)  My apartment was completely unaffected at first, but then an elder in my district surprised us all when he went to the mission office and told them that he wanted to go home.  So I spent all of Thursday morning helping him pack with Elder Andersen before his parents arrived.  (It was his choice and he was happy about it but his parents were absolutely furious.)  The elder that left was just given a new companion that has a lot of anxiety issues and can't be companions with just anyone.  So it was decided that Elder Earl who was living with me should be his new companion and he had to move out unexpectedly.  Which meant that his companion had to move out because we didn't want to have a tri-panionship.  And because there are no more two-man apartments left Elder Pickering and I are now living together in a four-man apartment. 

On Sunday I went to that very...different Christmas Devotional.  I know you probably thought that nothing could beat the picture of President Monson from the Pioneer Day Concert but this time I got an even better one:

Aww yeah.

Here are some more pictures:

 This is how close we were sitting.  It was closer than it looked but still not that close.

A relaxed face forces a smile.

This tree only gets lights put on it every other year.

Love,
Elder Larson

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Eric's Testimony for the Young Men and Young Women:

First of all I'd just like to thank you all from the bottom of my teeny and fragile little heart for sending me a Christmas Care Package.  My brain pretty much exploded when I got that because I had no idea that you guys cared about me and stuff.  Thank you all so much and you are definitely the coolest youth in a ward that's ever existed. 

If there is any principle that I can share with you that I've come to learn more fully out here on my mission than anywhere else in my life would be that of faith.  It's something we talk about a lot, in fact it's the very first principle in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But I just want you all to know how great it is to exercise.  It will give you power and strength when you have none left, and holding fast to faith will help you through the hardest of times; whether on your mission or not.  Frequently I find myself in situations where I feel lost or scared and I'm not really sure what to do, in fact to be perfectly blunt I have no idea what I'm doing half of the time.  But I believe in Christ, His hand is evident in all things to me.  When I remember that and know that he will never forget me nor forsake me I find the strength and the spirit I need to overcome all my challenges.

One day not too long ago my companion and I were casually walking to our destination through Temple Square when a group of three men excitedly saw us and called us over.  Two of the men introduced them to us and told us that the third member in their group was named Samuel.  Samuel was a new convert to the Church and had been having some problems in his life and he requested to have a blessing right as we walked into sight and they wanted me to give him one.  Terrified out of my mind yet not wanting to show it I found us a room where we could be in private.

Samuel was going through some struggles and he had been reverting back to his previous addictions to smoking and drinking.  He also suffered from schizophrenia and had been having a very hard time combating that.  It was his request that he have a blessing to have enough faith to overcome these challenges so that he could be clean again, as he knew what he was doing was wrong.  Not knowing what else to do but give him a blessing I went ahead and did as he asked.

I do not recall how long I took or even what I said, but when it was through the presence of the Holy Ghost was prevalent.  Samuel thanked me profusely for being a worthy Priesthood holder and for giving him a blessing and saying the exact words he needed to hear.  I think we all know who told him the words he needed to hear, and it wasn't me. 

No matter how shy or weak or inadequate we feel, we must remember that the physical limitation is not in the divinity of this work.  God has always used weak things to show the world how strong they can become, and I have a perfect testimony of that.

I know this Church is true brothers and sisters, and I know that the Lord is indeed hastening his work.  I know that this is God's very Church restored to its fullest on the Earth once again and that He offers the blessings that come from it to all souls whether living or dead.  Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet, and he translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God; and Thomas S Monson is the living prophet today.  Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and through Him we may be saved, and there is no other way.  I leave this testimony with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Week Forty Seven

I don't think anyone told me that Christian is home.  At least I don't remember reading it.  Meh, I'm losing my mind.  Has he asked about me or anything?  I guess you haven't really had the opportunity to talk to him much.

So for Thanksgiving all the elders came over to the stake center cultural hall and a surprising amount of food was given to us so don't worry about me not getting a feast.  Our branch president apparently knows a lot of chefs and he asked them to do this for us and they agreed.  So yes turkey, stuffing, potatoes, corn- we had it all. 

On Friday we went to see the lights turn on for the first time at Temple Square and I ran into Brother Bishop.  He told me that you guys say hi but I'm not entirely sure if you knew he was coming or not.  It was a brief hello and it looked like he and his family were just here to look at the lights so it was cool to see someone I know.

Also since the library was closed on Friday still we watched the christmas concert from last year with Alfie Boe.  He plays Jean Valjean in broadway.  I quite enjoyed it and would like the CD.  Alfie Boe has a very awesome voice and it's really powerful as well. 

Funny thing about the Christmas Season on Temple Square.  Apparently they like Christmas music playing all the time so all can hear as they look at the lights.  In addition to the music that's played on the loud speakers, concerts are going on at all times at various locations across Temple Square including in the library (because people apparently want to hear people sing while they're in a library.)  These are mainly choirs from Utah high schools and such and we're going to be singing in the assembly hall one day...also apparently Lehi Jr. High has a hand bell choir.  The music on the loudspeakers is so loud that I can hear it at my apartment.  I think what little love I had for contemporary Christmas music is going to dissipate completely.  I still like the Christmas Hymns though so that's why I ask for the CD.  (And Alfie Boe.)  Though if I hear Candlelight Carol one more time (a song I have to sing by the way) I might go crazy.

I had no batteries to put in my camera during this week and I feel bad about that because there was a lot to take pictures of.  The only picture I have to show you is a picture of an important ornament I bought today because I knew my tree needed it:

Something I desperately need is a nice electric shaver.  Like, a really nice electric shaver.  I mean, a really nice one that won't tear my neck off when I'm trying to shave.  It's gotten to the point where I have to shave twice a day now because the hair on my ugly mug grows alarmingly fast now.  As you can imagine my face isn't liking the abuse and I'm suffering from some pretty bad razor burn.  I hear that if you invest in a really nice electric shaver you can avoid that problem so that's why I put emphasis on the nice part because I'm looking for one that specifically tackles razor burn problems if such a thing exists.  If not then just get me the best you can.  On a completely different note another thing I'd like is peppermint oil.  Not extract, oil.  Okay that's all I can think of.

The amount of mail I had to carry home yesterday wasn't pleasant.  And I've been told the horror stories from other district leaders about how many packages they had to carry home last Christmas season.  (They had to load and unload packages using the Brandon's car at the apartments 3 times to be specific.)  So now that the amount of elders on this mission has nearly doubled I'm not looking forward to being a mail man for this month.  Send them whenever you want though and I'll be happy. 

This was a good week and I'm doing well.  My district is changing on Wednesday and Elder Liddiard will no longer be my zone leader because I'm changing zones as well.  My new zone leader will be Elder Broadhead.  Also we all have tickets to go to the Christmas Devotional on Sunday so I'm excited for that.

Love,.
Elder Larson