“What the sun in the heavenly blue is to the earth struggling to get free from winter’s grip, so the gospel of Jesus Christ is to the sorrowing souls yearning for something higher and better than mankind has yet found on earth…” (Papa Dade)

          Yesterday, we went to a member’s funeral in Harlem.  Her dying wish was to have the missionaries sing at her funeral.  She is the only member in her family (she was 72.)  Sister Barner’s children are not LDS -- you could tell they had no knowledge of life after death.  To them, their relationship with their mother was complete and terminated.  How grateful I am for a knowledge and conviction of the Plan of Salvation.  The gospel of Christ is so true and this truly is the only way those “yearning for something higher” can reconcile themselves with their Redeemer.  The plan of redemption is God’s plan from the beginning.

 

          An Elder shared the poem, Invictus, with me.  I love this poem when thinking about obedience and agency.  Christ’s Atonement stands paramount but He love us so much that we may captain our souls.  He will not force; He will not coerce.  He offers an eternally outstretched hand but we must act and then rely on His grace.  This past week, I’ve come to realize how much our Redeemer loves us, that He allows us to choose.  

It has been a great week.

Love,

Mac

Hey Minha Familia,

So, this has been a crazy week!  The Bronx is so fun!  Every day is unique.  

This past week I had the opportunity to go on to splits.  Elder Poulsen is the District Leader so I have to go on splits quite often.  I splitted with Elder Zazueta who is a Spanish Speaking Elder but he also speaks Portuguese.  This was awesome--I've been able to maintain a lot of Portuguese.  We taught a lesson in Spanish but the lady said she could understand Portuguese and encouraged me to speak in Portuguese--it was very helpful.  I still have so much to learn.  

I looked up my visa status (the first dot, shocker...)  That is not a bad thing, though.  I love it in the Bronx and wouldn't mind staying a little longer.  I am learning so much from Elder Poulsen.  He is one of the best missionaries.

On Thursday night we needed to go drop off a DVD (Finding Faith in Christ) to a recent convert in the Mott Haven area.  This is a really sketchy neighborhood but we haven't ever had a problem.  We were about to go into one of the project buildings where she lives when a man stopped us on the street. He wanted to know why two 'white kids' were in Mott Haven.  We explained we are representatives of Jesus Christ and are sharing a message about Him.  He responded, "You've got a lot of heart to be in these parts...Your message must really mean something to you."  

My experiences this week reminded me of a powerful quote by Papa Dade, "Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know his relationship to the Infinite...There is something within him which urges him to rise above himself, to control his environment, to master the body and all things physical and live in a higher and more beautiful world."

This quote, to me, describes the Bronx.  So many people are looking for the truth, they just "know not where to find it."  I love this gospel and have a perfect knowledge that everyone--whether in this life or the next--will have the opportunity to begin to know his relationship to the Infinite.  This knowledge, in my opinion, is not a set knowledge but an eternal progressing knowledge in which we build line upon line, precept upon precept.

Thank you for all the letters and prayers.  I couldn't do it without you.  

Com amor,

Mac

Here is Dave's new address for letters and packages:

Elder David M Larkin

New York New York North Mission

700 White Plains Road, Suite 315

Scarsdale, New York  10583

Como vai?  Hey everyone,

How is everything going?  The Bronx is nuts!  There is never a dull moment.  Missionary work in the Bronx is super tough.  Most people don't speak English and their Spanish is Dominican Spanish, so super slangy and I don't understand most of it.  However, I contacted a lady last night and talked to her in Spanish for about ten minutes.  It was awesome.  

We meet so many different people each day.  Everyone here in the Bronx loves to pick on the missionaries--through arguing.  We just smile and keep walking when people get contentious.  

We live in the ghetto--but I love it.  People always want to talk because they want to know why in the world to white kids in ties and shirts are in the South Bronx.   I interviewed with president yesterday and the first thing he asked me, "So how do you like serving in the hood?  I feel perfectly safe because everyone in our area loves the missionaries.  But Hunts Point (my area) is definitely not the safest place in the world.  There are so many crimes and gang fights.  But the missionaries are perfectly safe. 

We have a few investigators.  Jose, is awesome.  He has been wanting to change his life forever.  The Spanish elders found him.  They were walking down the street and a group of Dominicans starting giving them crap but Jose jumped in and told the guys to get lost.  He listened to the message and asked for the English elders.  I've taught him a couple of times and he retains everything. He said one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard in our last lesson.  He reads the Book of Mormon to his little girls at night and they love it.  He has a baptism date for the 28th of September.  He always tells me, "You know, that makes sense!  Never in Catholic school did anything make sense.  But your message, I feel that I've heard it before."  It is amazing to see the small changes in his life.  He has heard the message before, in the pre-existence.

Overall, I love the Bronx.  Everything is unique and crazy.  Everyday is unique.  It is a whole other world here so, in reality, I have already gotten my visa and I am in a foreign country.  I love it here.  My Portuguese hasn't faded yet and I have been able to speak a little.  When I can't remember the words in Spanish, I just respond in Portuguese.  Hopefully, they understand.  For the most part, I speak English, but I love to speak in Spanish--it is always an adventure.  

Com amor,

Mac

Here are some pictures Dave sent from New York...

Here are some pictures from the MTC. Elder Larkin left the MTC Tuesday, August, 20, 2013 for the New York, New York mission while he waits for his visa for Brazil. He has been assigned to the Hunt's Point Area in the Bronx.

 Elder Barnes and Elder Larkin

Elder Davis Wilkinson (assigned to serve in Australia) and Elder Larkin

Elder Barnes, Elder Helvey, Elder Larkin, Elder Shelton, Elder Nelson, Elder Phillips and Elder Shreeve

Elder Helvey (has been assigned to the New York, New York mission waiting for his visa as well)
and Elder Larkin

Elder Whatcott and Elder Larkin

David just got his stateside assignment while he waits for his Brazilian visa to come. He will be serving in the New York, New York North Mission. This mission includes Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens and some of upstate New York. He will be speaking Portuguese. In Dave's words it felt like Christmas when he found out and is so excited for the chance to serve there.

8/13/13

Thank you so much for your letters and care!  This week has been extremely difficult and they were much appreciated!  As you know I have been sick since Tuesday night.  This is the sickest I have ever been next to the three weeks in June.  I have had a constant headache for a week, throwing up blood, chills, hot flashes, fluctating temperatures, etc.  You name it, I had it!  I am finally starting to feel better--just a sore throat and little headache.  I have felt your prayers daily and I am so grateful.

Two of my favorite scriptures are found in D&C 121:33 and Mormon 8:22.  "How long can rolling waters remain impure?"  The Lord’s Gospel is rolling forth (Mormon 8:22) and His truth is expanding throughout the world. I am so excited to be a participant in that work.  The light of the world--even Jesus Christ--will bring so much joy to those searching for answers.  The eternal consequences associated with following Him and enduring to the end are so powerful--and we can only begin to comprehend a finite particle of them at this mortal time.  This Gospel is one of eternal learning and I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to learn of all the He has prepared for us.  I encourage you to read the fifth chapter of 2 Corinithians.  Particularly, verse 17.  This is one of my favorite new verses and it explains that in Christ we are new and can begin an eternal progression of becoming continually new. 

Com Amor,

Elder Larkin

Elder Larkin and Elder Rasmussen at the MTC.