Sister Paige Larsen—Email Excerpt

We are learning our area better. We haven’t been back to Maryland thus far on accident, since the first few days. Sister Arnett drives now and I work the map. It’s working out well. We just can’t play the music while I’m keeping track of the map, or I end up skipping a step/turn, thinking: “Oh we’re already on that road,” not: “We still need to turn on to that road.” Then my mind goes onto the next step thinking it’s already been done. It’s only happened 2 or 3 times though.

There’s a Sister that’s been coming out with us that already has her mission call to the bilingual mission of Carlsbad, CA. I was excited when I heard that she was going there. I assume that Oceanside is in that mission, right? Everyone in that mission gets called to speak Spanish because it’s so densely populated with Spanish speakers. Weather they’ll ever serve in a Spanish ward is another thing. She’s come with us to a few appointments thus far, and she’s so good. She came with us when we taught some Muslims, and then again to visit a 21-year-old girl who was raised Jewish and Baptist. The Muslim appointment went well. We’ll see if they kept all their commitments and if they’ve gotten an answer this Saturday.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference. It was so good!

Sister Paige Larsen—Email Excerpt

I am going to a NEW area! I’ll be opening the area to sisters. This is called White Washing. White Washing an area is when both companions are new to the area. I’ll be serving in the Colonial 2nd Young Single Adult Ward. That covers two stakes; Mt. Vernon stake, which I’ve served in before, and Annandale stake. I’ll be serving with Sister Arnett, who has been out as long as Sister Bagley. Sister Bagley is gaining one of the 5 baby missionaries coming in. Sister Arnett and I are so excited for each other. I love White Oak, it’s so great. With the spirit’s support it helps us not to be overwhelmed and cry. We got the call from President Albright this morning. Which consists of getting a call from one of the AP’s phones and getting a, “Will you hold for President?” Then the president tells you your special assignment. You only get a call from the President if it’s a special assignment.

One of our investigators, who does all of the reading and really takes the time to ponder and apply it, but never got to church because he worked every other week, now works Monday through Friday with the weekends off. His wife never wanted to learn before, but she found out that their favorite book series is written by a member and now she is interested. She is pregnant, so maybe she is more sensitive to the spirit. When we talked to him on the phone on Tuesday, he said they were looking to come soon. Woo hoo! We have been praying for them, and including them in our fasts.

Missions and all hard things refine us if we let them.

Sister Paige Larsen—Email Excerpt

Is it going to be weird to have everyone either married, or on a mission in the Larsen family? By the way, on the subject of the Larsen Family, I have someone in the ward who keeps asking me about my Larsen ancestry. I really don’t even know cousins with the last name Larsen. Could you mail me the family tree on the Larsen side going back more than 4 generations? This member told me a story about a Larsen ancestor that went blind. Maybe that rings a bell. His father’s mother was a Larsen. His oldest child just graduated from High school.

Emma’s baptism was on Thursday. She got baptized twice. We asked a prospective Elder to baptize her. He’s getting ready to go on a mission, so it’s good experience for him. They already have a home teacher for the family.

The next baptism is on July 4th for a 19 year old man in the Marines. He’s coming up here to be baptized because he started being taught here before he went into the Marines. This is where his main fellowshipping family is. I was volunteered to give my first Baptism talk. Before if I got an assignment I sang, or gave a prayer in Spanish.