December 20, 2014

I have been thinking about what I could do for a Christmas project.  I decided that I wanted to do something to help Canindé.  I love that city and the members there.  Since all the members there are recent converts and are still learning the gospel, I decided that I would buy Triple Combinations, Liahona Magazines, Temple Magazines, DVDs of the Restoration, etc. and send it to them.  I wrapped them all up and coordinated with Elder Z* to deliver everything.  He was super excited to do this.  Two weeks ago I never knew how to wrap a present well.  I can now say I am a pro!  I have got it down to a science.  It was a super fun project.  However, it didn’t stop there.  I decided that I would wrap up some regular copies of The Book of Mormon to pass on to missionaries and ward members to give as gifts to their friends and family.  Yesterday, we were eating lunch with a member, V*.  After we left a message with him, we presented one of the wrapped books for him to give to a friend and refer him to the missionaries.  He thought it was so cool and asked for 10 more.  He is going to give them to all of his employees.  I am making some more for Elder H* and his companion because they are awesome missionaries and I know they will go to good use.

I had another experience with this project this week.  We took many taxis while driving around the city preparing for Christmas.  As is customary, we always talk with the taxi drivers.  We had one taxi driver who definitely was not religious at all but while we were driving, I felt that I should give him one of the wrapped copies of The Book of Mormon.  So at the end of the ride I asked him if we could give him a Christmas present.  I presented the wrapped book to him and his nature completely changed.  He became very happy and said, “Wow, for me?  That is so kind of you!”  It was amazing to see how happy he became.  Fun project.  It will be interesting to see how it goes.

Subway with Elder T and President Evans 

With Elder B

With Elders H and Z

Dinner at N's Home

December 13, 2014

An amusing experience:  This week we tried to organize a Family Home Evening with L*.  We made the appointment with S*, her sister, but we still needed to tell L*about the activity.  She lives in one of the toughest parts of Campo América and it is a true favela.  Elder T* called S*’s daughter to ask for her aunt’s number.  She laughed when he asked this and then said, chuckling, “Well, she doesn’t have a number but I have the number for the payphone in the middle of the favela!”  Elder T* thought, “Oh, why not?  Let’s try!”  He got the number and then thanked her.  He called the number and a woman answered.  He said, “Oi, L*?”  The woman said, “Who?” with a tone of anger.  He responded, “Hello, is L* there?”  She responded, “Oh, one minute.”  Then, in the background, Elder T* heard her yelling at the top of her lungs over the music blasting, “L*!  L*! L*!  Come here!  Phone!!!”  He heard some muffling in the background and then about 30 seconds later a female voice came on the phone and very happily said, “Ms. L*’s Residence.”  Elder T* just started laughing and then went on to tell her about the Family Home Evening.  This is a classic example of Brazil.  I don’t know how there is a payphone in the middle of the Jaguaribe Favela but, apparently, it is L*’s personal home phone in the middle of the street.

This week, we also went to lunch at Irmão R* and Irmã K*’s home.  They are a very simple family that knows how to live the gospel.  We had a good conversation.  R* makes his living by creating high quality surfboards in his home.  He is famous in Brazil for his surfboards.  As you walk into their home, all you see are countless surfboards.  This reflects the culture of Fortaleza so well—very laid back.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to teach B*.  When we arrived, he asked us who our favorite prophets from the Book of Mormon were.  I decided that I would share one of my favorites.  I shared the story of Enos with him.  We had a very good conversation about the importance of diligence in the work of the Lord and in life.  It was really neat to hear the final prayer.  B* is very timid and shy and has a hard time socially.  However, he offered the final prayer.  He thanked the Lord for giving him “two sincere friends” and asked the Lord to bless us unconditionally.  He asked the Lord to permit this friendship to continue throughout eternity.  I was very touched by B*’s words.  He is a very sincere individual and I have learned a lot from him.

Elder Z* called me this afternoon explaining about the situation in Canindé.  He told me that he had been waiting for water for many hours and it still hadn’t arrived.  I told him I knew exactly what he was going through and that I felt so sorry for him.  Canindé is so tough.  He explained the feelings and sentiments that he is confronting right now and they are the very same ones I faced when I was there.  It was comforting for him to know he isn’t alone in the experience.  It is amazing how much a friendship can help life be a whole lot happier.

I love the Plan of Salvation.  It has become so real for me as I have been on my mission.  I have come to recognize that mortality is very short.  It makes perfect sense that the Lord created a Plan of Happiness.  It makes perfect sense that we would need to follow a Redeemer who would guide us safely home.

 Drinking coconut water with Elder "T"

The Beach

The streets of Fortaleza

Surf Shop in "R"s home

December 6, 2014

One night this week, when we were returning home around 9:15 at night, we were walking on an empty street.  There was a very worn down, dirty, garbage sifter sitting on the side of the road thinking.  We passed right by him, told him good-evening, and continued walking.  We had walked about 50 yards when I stopped and asked Elder Thieme if he had a “Ele É O Presente” card.  He smiled, said no, and then went on to tell me that he was thinking the same thing.  We turned around and walked back to the man.  He was a man who looked like he lives on the streets, had a worn down buggy to collect trash, and has definitely felt the effects of drugs during his life.  I asked him, “Excuse me sir, do you know where Rua Rui Barbosa is located?”  He smiled and said that he thought it was a few streets down.  We went on to talk with him.  In the middle of the conversation, a shop owner came out with a 2-Liter coke bottle filled halfway with water.  The man had stopped to ask for water since he did not have any money to buy it.  It turns out that he spends the entire night scavenging for trash in order to provide for his family.  We were shocked to find out that he has a family.  He has a wife and two children, 10 and 9 years old.  We were both very humbled by the situation.  At first glance, we would have simply thought he was a homeless man due to drug addiction.  However, he explained to us that he walks about 10 miles each night to Aldeota in order to find the valuable trash.  He returns home every morning about 10:00, eats with his family, sleeps, and then does the same routine all over again.  We told him that we had a message about the Gospel of Christ and we would love to share it with him.  He was super happy and told us that the missionaries could come by.  Who knows if anything will come of it, but I know that the simple action of us turning around and taking the time to talk with him made him light up.  It made him realize that he is of worth in the world.  These small actions create true humanity…

It has been a very interesting week.  It has been super busy in the office but things are working out.  I have taken the time this week to completely memorize the song “Come Thou Fount.”  It is by far my favorite hymn.  Now, anytime I get discouraged, I start singing it!  I love the Gospel.  The Lord answers prayers. 

He always listens to our prayers. 

November 8, 2014

This past week has been very interesting to say the least.  At the beginning of the week, I had to organize a collective marriage for the entire mission.  It is going to occur on the 29^th of November and the judge is going to marry about 30 couples for free (a really big deal here because people don’t have the money to pay for marriages.)  They will then have a large baptismal service afterwards.  At the last minute the mission president put me in charge of organizing everything and but I was never told any of the details.  Turns out that Monday night was the deadline, so I had to rush and travel all around the city to get legal documents from the missionaries.  After spending countless hours on Monday, I travelled to another area of the mission to deliver the documents on Tuesday.  I have never been so tired.

However, there were some neat experiences this week.  As I was running around the city to deliver the documents, I began talking with the taxi cab drivers.  I have found that this is one of my favorite things to do.  They are so nice and so willing to talk.  It is interesting because the topic of the church always comes up.  Elder Z* and I had the opportunity to talk with one of them about the church and it was a really great conversation.  We wrote down his address and the missionaries are now visiting him.

This morning we did a service project for a member of the ward who lives in our apartment building.  We decorated for Christmas.  She is the mother of Derek’s mission mom.  It was super fun decorating for Christmas.  It is funny - everyone decorates for Christmas here

during the first week of November. 

I hope you all have a great week!

November 15, 2014

This week has been of the craziest of my mission.  I am so tired.  It all started out with this marriage fiasco again.  Everything fell through with the court house and I had to reorganize everything.

We then had Zone Conference this week on Wednesday and Thursday but I wasn't able to attend.  I had to wake up at 5:00 AM to take six Elders, who are going home on Monday, to the Federal Police station.  I had to renew their visas in order that they can leave the country.  Since their documents were approved only last week it meant that I couldn't make an appointment at the station--we were on the standby list.  I spent all day there waiting to be attended.  Finally, in the late afternoon we were able to get their visas renewed.

November 22, 2014

Wow, this week has been very interesting.  I started by taking all of the missionaries (19) to

 the airport on Monday.  That was crazy.  But, after a lot of organization and hard work, we

were able to get it all worked out.  It is the largest group of missionaries that the mission has ever taken to the airport at one time.

This past week, I have been super tired.  However, we are getting a lot of work done.  I can’t believe how quickly the week flew by.  Elder Z* got transferred on Monday and is now in Canindé.  He is super excited.  I called him yesterday and he told me that he definitely has gone from one extreme to another.  He no longer has air conditioning, the water stinks, and it is incredibly hot.  I told him I knew exactly what he was going through.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving this week!

November 29, 2014

I hope all is well with you.  This past week has been a good week.  We have done a lot of work.  On Tuesday, I had a interesting experience.  We had worked all day in the office and went out to tract at night.  We went to Campo America (a “flavela,” or “ghetto”) in our area because we met an inactive member who lives there and wanted us to do a visit.  We found them on the street in the small alleyway.  (As a side note, the alleyways in the flavelas are small and the majority of the people spend all their time on the street in chairs drinking. The culture is very interesting in the flavelas and most of the time we teach on the street.)   We began to “bater papo” (converse) with them and they were really friendly.  We asked the inactive members about their history with the church and they explained that they fell away because they were embarrassed about addictions with The Word of Wisdom.  However, they still really enjoy the church and go occasionally.

I had the opportunity this week to give a training session on prayer.  The week was so rushed that I did not have any time to prepare the training.  Therefore, on Wednesday morning I woke up and opened the Ensign from last General Conference.  I decided that I would read President Uchtdorf’s discourse on revelation and prayer.  It is a fantastic talk and I ended up giving the training on it.  If you have an opportunity this week, I encourage you to read the talk.  I really enjoy a quote from the talk.  He says, “Your personal testimony of light and truth will not only bless you and your posterity here in mortality, but it will also accompany you throughout all eternity, among worlds without end.”  The testimonies that we gain here in mortality will remain with us as we pass through the phases of The Plan of Salvation.  I look forward to the day when our testimonies of the pre-mortal existence, mortality, and beyond will be combined to work collectively for our benefit.

The attached picture shows our Thanksgiving Dinner.  Sister E* suggested that since we couldn’t find anyone serving turkey, Americana would hit the spot.  It was great.

01 de novembro de 2014

Highlight of the week: 

I decided to make Chinese food.  I got so tired of eating rice and beans everyday, I decided that I would venture out and make my own food.  It ended up being really good.

One of the neat things that happened this week was a lesson we had with L*.  She is a recent convert and we decided that we would talk about temples and family history work.

As I shared some scriptures, a thought came to mind and we talked about it.  The thought was about how we can’t be saved without our ancestors and they can’t be saved without us.  We began talking about the structure of the family.  The family is where we learn most of our valuable life lessons.  I then began to think about the resurrection.  We know that we will continue to learn, grow, and progress after the resurrection.  I thought about the opportunities we will have to learn from our ancestors.  We will learn from their experiences and they will learn from our experiences.  We will continue to work towards perfection together.  It is really hard to describe the insight I gained during this lesson but it was really neat. 

We also had the opportunity to teach B* last night.  He is a recent convert who is 18 and has had some difficulties in coming to church because of family issues.  We were able to contact him and talk with him.  He is one of the most humble individuals I have ever met.  It was really neat to talk with him and I learned a lot.  He is very timid and shy but he was willing to open up with us.  We talked about conversion and how we know that the gospel is true.  I shared my stories of conversion with him and he shared his experiences.  Though it was only about a 5 minute lesson, I think it was one of the most impactful lessons I have experienced.  A simple conversation can go a long way in the life of an individual.

Things are going well.  I am just trying to move forward and learn.  I have a lot to learn.  I have come to the realization that life is super short and that we need to make every day count. 

We need to enjoy all the small things.

25 October 2014

This past week has been very, very busy.  There are so many things to do in the office.  So many little problems to fix and so many things to coordinate.  It is amazing to see how everything must come together to run a mission.  Everyday I am in contact with people from all over South America and Salt Lake City.  I receive countless emails everyday.  However, I am still really enjoying it.  There are a lot of opportunities to serve.

This past week I had a fun little challenge that brought some good memories from my science days.  While serving in Aldeota, I have the opportunity to live in a good house because it is located in the middle of the city.  We have a hot shower (which is plugged into the wall.)  The person who installed it did not do a good job and the machine blew.  And, the person who installed ours had also installed Elder and Sister Evans’ shower.  Therefore, I became the repair man for both.  It took me a while to track down all the parts but I finally did it.  It was one of my favorite service projects in the mission.  It brought back many fun memories.

I’ve come to realize that the Lord truly magnifies people through growth.  This week, I was invited by Elder Evans to give a training for the district meeting. It was on the importance of inviting people to accept commitments.  Nine months ago I would have been petrified.  I was so worried about the language and my social skills.  This week I still had those same feelings, but I asked the Lord for help and I used one of my old outlines.  It is amazing to see how the Spirit works.  Scriptures, thoughts, and passages flooded my mind.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about small growth: line upon line, precept upon precept.  Trust in the Lord and move forward.

I don’t think I have ever described the food here.  Let me tell you what I ate for lunch yesterday to help describe the culture.  We had a huge mound of rice, black beans, frango frito (fried chicken), frango ao molho (chicken covered in sauce), tomato, raisin, and many, many juices.  There was orange peel juice, grape juice, pineapple skin juice, and pineapple juice.  The pineapple juice here is to die for.  It is so good.  Also, the pineapple skin juice is awesome.  It has a taste that is completely different but really good.  What a lot of people do here is make the juice from the skins of the fruit and then add mint.  It is really delicious.

Have a great week.

Elder Larkin

11 October 2014

Fortaleza

This past week has been an awesome change. Serving in the office is a lot of work but I have 

the best two companions. Elder Z* is awesome and super nice. We get along great. Elder 

T* is absolutely hilarious and an awesome worker. My apartment is in downtown Fortaleza.

This area is different from any other that I’ve seen in Ceará. It reminds me a lot of New York 

City. It is known for its amazing seafood and many, many restaurants. Most of people who live 

here are not from Ceará. They are from other parts of the country, so there are many different

accents. It is awesome.

The work is difficult because this is the richest part of the state, and there are only tall

buildings. However, we have a baptism on the 29th of October of a 22 year-old girl named L*.

It should be awesome. The ward is great. I am going to get so fat here. The lunches are

banquets. Yesterday, for example, was endless shrimp, chicken, and steak.

 Many of the members here have been mission presidents and

love spoiling the missionaries. They know that it is difficult for us so

they always give us food.

Being in the office is a lot of work but I really enjoy it. Let’s just say that my Portuguese is

going to improve a lot out of necessity. All day, every day, I am talking on the phone

with people from all over the country. I have to organize all the visas, passports, medical

appointments, etc. I also have to deal with all the mission problems.

It can be a little stressful but I get to know the entire mission.

My phone is constantly ringing. Please know that I am doing very well and that I 

am very happy.

October 6, 2014

I got transferred!  I will be serving in downtown Fortaleza (near where the temple will be built) and living next door to the mission office so that I can work as the mission secretary.  Elder Z* will train me for the next 6 weeks and then Elder T* (who is Brazilian and awesome) and I will take over the office for the following transfer.  We will work in the office during the day, and then tract or teach in the evenings.

I absolutely loved Conference this week.  First, there was a quote from CS Lewis that says, “Courage is the form of every virtue at the testing point.”  That was from Elder Robbins’ talk, which I really enjoyed.  I also loved Elder Bednar’s talk, which has prompted me to reach out through letter-writing to some non-member friends back home.

Oh, best thing about this new transfer…the apartment has hot water!  Yeh!!!

September 22, 2014

This past week has been difficult. We found some new people to teach but it has been hard. 

C* was progressing great but then fell back into hard-drinking. He was all excited to come 

to church but he then didn't show up. I hope that everything is ok with him and that he will 

continue to make progress. All of our investigators seem to have fallen off the map and don't 

really want to make changes in their lives. I understand where they are coming from (I have 

been there). However, I am going to continue strong with my testimony that it is all about small 

This past week I had the opportunity to do two interviews. The first was for a 9 year-old boy 

named C**. It was great interview. At the end, I asked him if he had any questions or doubts 

about the things the Elders had taught him or anything he had heard in church. He thought for 

a second and then with complete innocence asked me, "Is the church true?" I smiled, and then 

bore my testimony. As I told him, "I know the church is true," a sweet spirit entered the room.

I also had the opportunity to do an interview for a 20 year-old girl named T*. It was a very good 

This week has been difficult because of the stresses of missionary work. However, I am just 

going to try to move forward. I am just going to continue to make small changes...

changes. Maybe I can just plant some seeds in this area.

interview. She is very humble and grateful for meeting the missionaries.

08 de setembro de 2014

This past week has been interesting.  We met a man by the name of J*.  He is from Haiti and speaks very little Portuguese (only French/Creole).  He has been in Fortaleza for 20 days trying to find a new life.  He knows the church very well from Haiti and he was excited to see us.  It was interesting to have him tell us his story.  He spoke in mostly French (who would have thought that French and Portuguese are so similar--I can't speak it but I sure can understand it.)  It is so interesting to see people's reactions when they find the church in a new place.  You can be anywhere in the world and the church will be the same.  The same light of Christ attracts people all over the world.

We have been teaching C* this past week.  He is trying to change his life.  He is starting to give up alcohol.  However, it is really hard for him.  He has diminished his intake by a lot, which has been an awesome feat for him.  A week ago he was drinking four canisters of hard liquor.  Now, he has gotten down to just a beer or two a day.  It is amazing to see the small changes which can occur in peoples' lives.  I can only imagine how happy the Lord is when one of his children recognizes an error and begins to slowly change his life.  I truly believe in small changes.  Of course, C* isn't fully living the Word of Wisdom yet but he is trying.  The Lord has to be so happy to see someone changing his life.  This is really why we are here.  We are all imperfect.  We can, however, get a little bit better every day.  This idea of making small changes has become my theme on my mission.  I tell people that they can make very small changes.  And then, over the course of time, these small changes will accumulate into a grand transformation.

Excerpts from September 1, 2014 Email:

This past week has been a very good week!

“…today was the marriage of M*.  What a day: a marriage, an interview, and a baptism..."

(August 29, 2014)

"I had one of the most spiritual experiences today.  I did the baptismal interview of M*.  He met the missionaries in January and has been working non-stop to prepare for baptism.  We conversed for an hour and a half.  There was such a sweet stillness in the room.  I have never met a more sincere man -- someone who has true humility.  He talked about all the small changes which have happened in his life over the course of the last eight months.  I bore my testimony about how this life is a journey and that we need to simply make small changes everyday.  We can't understand everything in just one moment.”

"The concept of character is what is truly important to the Lord.  He is not going to look at specific events, He is going to look at our development of character.  We have already developed a unique character in the premortal existence.  The process of development will always continue.   We are on this long path to mold our intelligence and stretch our personal existence…"

(August 30, 2014)

Love you all so much!

Elder Mac

Remember, I love letters!

This week we had the opportunity to meet R*. He has been a member of the church for 29 years. However, 23 years ago (when he was about to go on a mission) he fell away. He just lost interest. Over the past few months, his life has fallen apart. A few weeks ago he decided that he needed to start praying again. He got the courage to talk to a member who lived in the area who gave him the bishop’s number. He said he knows if he wants to be happy and successful he needs to return to church. So this is what he is doing. We met with him last Saturday in his home. His wife is evangelical and of another faith. However, we had a fantastic message on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sunday morning arrived and R* rode his bike the few miles to church, with his five year old daughter on the handlebars. I have never seen someone so happy when he walked through those doors of the chapel. It was fast and testimony meeting and R* bore his testimony. It was powerful and simple. He spoke of the love of Christ and the beauty of repentance.

R* comes from such a humble background...he lives in a very poor area which is notorious for drug abuse and crime. However, you would think that he had won the lottery with how happy the past week of his life has been—just because he returned to church. His story has been such a strong example to me that anyone can be happy if they simply live two basic principles—faith and repentance.

This past week I discovered a new pastime in Fortaleza—making juice. Fruit here is so cheap because it is a very hot climate and they grow oranges and coconuts like grass. So, I bought a hand-cranked juicer for R$5 and every morning I juice ice-cold oranges to make the best orange juice in the world. Elder S* and I have learned how to “milk” coconuts and we are making liters of the juice. It is so good.

We started teaching an English class here. I have been put in charge of the more advanced class (people who have already had a lot of background in English). Therefore, the class is super fun. I think I have learned more about English and Portuguese this past week than ever before in my life. I have learned so many rules in English that I never realized existed.

Love,

Dave

P.S. This morning as I went to go take a shower, the entire wall was moving. I have never seen more ants in my life. These ants are about the size of the end of the thumb to the knuckle. They are huge and they bite. Let’s just say that it was the fastest shower I have ever taken....

This past week I read a talk by Papa Dade which touched my heart.  

It talks about life and purpose.  It reads:

"Life, brethren and sisters, is an overflowing river on which one embarks at birth and sails, or is rowed, for fifty, seventy, eighty, or more years.  Every year that passes goes into an eternity, never to return; yet each carries with it into the past no personal weakness, no bodily ailment, no sorrow, no laughter, no thought, no noble aspirations, no hope, no ambition: all these with every trait of character, every inclination, and every tendency remain with each individual.  In other words, our lives are made up of daily thoughts and actions.  We may resolve to let all our sorrows and weaknesses go with the passing of time, but we know that every thought and every inclination has left its indelible impression upon our souls, and we shall have to deal with it today..."

This has forced me to think about eternity...Many think of eternity as some time-span far beyond comprehension.  And yet, if we read the scriptures, and understand them, we know we have already existed for eternities.  Every day we pass in this mortally-tried life is another day which will slip into the history of the eternities.  Everything, therefore, is dependent upon action and thought.  The only thing we may take with us throughout an eternal progression is character.  Every impulse, then, should be dedicated to character.  This has greatly transformed my outlook on life as I have pondered it this talk.

This week, we have concentrated on reactivation.  We analyzed and reconstructed the entire ward list, which includes over 400 inactive members.  We have visited over thirty individuals in the past few days.  We had a wonderful experience with one of those visits.  E* and S* are a couple who were baptized 15 years ago and soon became very active and the moving force of the ward.  They alone brought four or five families into the church.  And then, eight years ago, they were offended by thoughtless members and fell away.  We left a powerful message with them and I shared some of my personal experiences in which I have struggled with the same subject.  I bore my testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect but, because the Savior has to rely on mortal leadership, the church is not.  They told me they had never thought of it like that before.  We left them with the invitation to go to church but they said that right now isn't the time to go back.

Well, Sunday came around and I was talking with members right before sacrament meeting.  I got tapped on the shoulder and turned around.  There was S*.  She told me, with a smile on her face, "I'm here!"  She immediately went and hugged all of her long-lost friends with whom she hadn’t talked for many years.  She was so happy.  She was showing pictures of her family and recounting everything that had happened over the last decade.  Then, at the end of all the church meetings, she said to me, "Elder, thank you for being willing to deal with our stubborness.  You can be assured that I will be here next week.  I haven't felt so much peace in so long."

Everyday we have the opportunity to choose between Christ or Satan; selflessness or selfishness; love or offence.  My new goal is simply always try to choose love.

All decked-out for the World Cup.

Celebrating the One Year Mark!

My new friend, Lindinha.

Olha quem encontramos hoje!!! Ahhh matamos um pouco da saudade desses nossos amigos!! Dessa nossa família!!! Amamos vcs!!! Hoje o dia foi perfeito pq iniciou com essa felicidade!!! (Geiziane Duarte)

July 7, 2014

Araturi, Caucaia

The past few weeks, I have been the sickest that I have ever been on my mission.  It has been horrible.  Last Monday, I finally went to the hospital and spent a good number of hours in the emergency room.  I spent a second day there on Thursday.  It turns out that I have both bacterial and viral infections.  They gave me very strong antibiotics and confined me to the house for three days.  Let’s just say that I went insane!!!  It’s so hard not working.  I read almost the entire book of Alma (in Portuguese.)  

But, finally, as of today, I am feeling a lot better.

This past week there was a scripture that really stood out to me:

"And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away."

The Lord truly lives.  This is His work.  Conversion, not just baptism, is what is necessary.  Those who are truly converted cannot fall away.  This past week we had a meeting with the new mission president.  He is a very, very humble person and the nicest man.  What he talked about in the mission conference was perfect!  It is what I have been waiting for!  He told all the missionaries that they need to change their complete style of missionary work.  He told them that in his mission, the idea of baptizing for numbers will not be tolerated.  He said that he will be happier if every missionary just baptizes one person during his whole mission, making sure that the person is ready and will remain converted, than if every missionary baptizes one hundred people that are not ready.  I already love this mission president!  President Bonini is so humble and truly knows how missionary work should be done!  I really like him and I am excited to work with him.

Thank you for all your love and support!

Elder Larkin

June 30, 2014

Araturi, Caucaia

This week I was yelled at by a Seventh Day Adventist.  He just started Bible bashing...it was a horrible experience.  He accused me of everything from belonging to a cult to worshipping the devil.  I took his abuse for about 20 minutes because he wouldn't let us talk. I finally said, "Excuse me sir, are you done?"  I then went on to bear a very simple testimony.  I hate arguing.  The only thing I like to do is testify.  I didn't know what to say and just began to speak.  It is amazing how much power a simple testimony has--especially when guided by the Spirit.

Because of this experience I have been reflecting a lot about the concept of absolute truth, which President Kimball taught so beautifully.  Absolute truth is something that cannot be destroyed.  It is pure knowledge.  It is what the Spirit uses to touch (and chastize) the hearts of men.  It is what calls people to repentance.  I can truly say that I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation.

Hope all is well!

P.S.  Attached is a picture with Elder Z*.

June 23, 2014

Araturi, Caucaia

This past week has gone very, very, very well.  One of the best of my mission.  Wow, I am so tired...this morning we had to go to the center of Fortaleza and it took about 7 hours.  The buses are crazy because Brazil is playing today in the world cup.  Let’s just say that when I get home tonight that the hammock is going to be awesome.

It is amazing to see how the gospel transforms lives and builds friendships.  We had the baptism of Y* this week.  He is a great kid!  His family loves us.  They feed us until we can't even walk...it is great.

E* is doing awesome!  He works at night but makes it a priority to go and do visits with us every single day.  When he bears his testimony, it is so powerful.  The investigators think he has been a member of the church his whole life.  And then when he tells them that he met the missionaries four weeks ago, the investigators are blown away.  It has quite the spiritual impact.  His family has become best friends with another recent-convert family....I mean best of friends.  They are having a huge Brazil Soccer party tonight.  The gospel truly unites people--especially amid afflictions.  One of the families is passing through a difficult time and the other is right there to help them.  And to think they just met each other a week ago and it is like they have been friends since childhood.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is so true!

It is impossible to write everything that has happened this week.  But, hey, a quick bit of news.  You remember that family I was teaching in my last area?  A* (the alcoholic who said she could never change her life), W* (who became disillusioned with the church), and V* (their hilarious nephew) … they got baptized!!!  Elder C* sent me an email!  You know the gospel has to be true if A* got baptized.  She had told me she could never change....well, as I said, the gospel changes lives.  A* got baptized!!!  I am surprised beyond belief but also overjoyed!

Thank you for all your love and support!

Love, Dave

P.S. Yesterday I had a guy ask me if I was from Portugal!  He said that my accent is definitely not American.  Hey, that means improvement!!!