Week 30

This past week Elijah had the chance to work with his mission president in his area.  It sounds like it was a very busy week.  Elijah said the highlight was attending church meetings with his mission president.  They had an investigator attend church so they are starting to see progress!  He says that it is great to be near the beach again.  We love our boy. 

Week 29 Giraffes, Zebras and Monkeys

The Elders in his area are invited every four months to go to a wild animal reserve.  He said it was awesome.  It was the first time he has ever been able to feed a giraffe (that's his hand in the picture), see zebras up close, and if you look closely, Elijah is pointing out the monkeys in the tree.  He thought it was pretty cool.

He said that his new area is a little tough.  He said that he and his companion one day knocked on nearly 100  doors.  He said that they were let in twice and told that the people were Catholic and not interested.  As they were going home, his companion asked him if missions were always this hard.  He said that he didn't know what to say to him.  

He said the best thing about this last week was being able to see the ocean.  He said that he loved that.  He truly is in a beautiful area.  He said that while he was at the beach a man approached him and told him "thank you for serving our Heavenly Father."  Elijah said that he started to totally bawl.  

Week 28 Iguanas, Wild Chickens and Screaming Monkeys

 Elijah got transferred this last week.  He is temporarily serving in Nicoya until they can secure housing in Samara which is a small beach town.  He said that he has gone from the coldest part of his mission to the hottest.  He said it is HOT and HUMID!  He also told us that he has no hot water in his apartment.  Every morning he says that he gasps as he takes a shower and there is no ability to warm up the water.  He also informed us that he has to wash all his clothes by hand.  This should be an interesting area for him.  

He went to his branch this last Sunday and said that there are about 30 people.  He and his new companion, Elder Arriola from Guatemala, have their work cut out for them.  As he left the church on Sunday he took this picture of this lovely iguana outside the church.  He said that he sees iguanas and wild chickens everyday.  He also hears screaming monkeys everyday.  He said that he is in the "straight jungle."  We can't wait to hear more adventures from Lij. 

Week 27 Our Christmas Call

Merry Christmas!  Christmas Eve was wonderful.  We had a chance for exactly 45 minutes to talk to Elijah.  It was wonderful to see him and he looked terrific.  Some of the things he said is that it's been the toughest six months of his life, but its been the best six months he has had.  He repeatedly cried when he told us how much he loved the people in Costa Rica.  He said he couldn't imagine being any where else.  He cried when he told us about the two families that gave him birthday parties.  He told how humbling it was to go to these homes who had invited him, who had nothing and how they basically gave him everything they could to make his birthday special.  He told us how much it touched his heart and helped him want to be an even better missionary.  He told us how last week there was a big gun fight on his street and he peered out his window and saw police shooting.  We told him to save those stories till he comes home...  The whole family loved seeing and taking to him.  Olivia cried the whole 45 minutes.  Ethan cried when Elijah told him how much he missed him.  We all cried as he bore his testimony of the restored Gospel.  It seemed like it was a fast and testimony meeting that we won't soon forget!

Elijah emailed on Monday and let us know that he is being transferred to a small town called Samara.  He will be opening the area with a brand new missionary.  He will meet him Wednesday in the temple for the first time.  He is so very excited.  We can't wait to hear from him this coming Monday.  Feliz Navidad.

Week 26 "Two Birthday Parties"

Elder Larson had a busy week this week.  It was the week of miracles which means a lot of fasting, praying and work!  Elder Larson was lucky to be able to work with his mission president on his birthday.  He didn't mention to his president that is was his birthday all day.  The next day, Elijah got a call from the mission president saying how sorry he was that he hadn't told him Happy Birthday. 

As parents we were so worried that Elijah wasn't going to have a good birthday.  Some of the packages we have mailed him, have never made it to him.  We shouldn't have worried, Elijah's cook Ana had a little party for him with cupcakes, balloons, streamers and signs.  How grateful we are for Ana.  She has been good to Elijah. 

Elijah was even more spoiled when on Sunday a new member and her family had another birthday party for him.  He said that he had the biggest cake.  Maribel and Hector have been very good to Elijah.  He said that Maribel started crying and told hm that he was like a son.  We are very thankful for Maribel, Hector and their family.  

Week 25 "I got 8 million emails"

It's Elijah's birthday week!  Today on his P-Day, he said when he opened his email that he had 8 million emails.  He told me "Mom I don't even know how I can answer all of these back."  He asked me to send out a thank you to everyone who remembered him on his birthday.

He had a good week!  He said that he found a new investigator named Jordanny.  He said that he felt like it was a miracle to find a new investigator.  

He is excited to work hard this week.  He said that some members have a surprise for him this week on his birthday. We hope that he has a wonderful birthday. 

Week 24 "All is Well"

Elijah didn't have much to say this week.  He seemed a little discouraged.  A young man he was teaching, who was excited to get baptized, can't continue with the lessons.  Elijah was sad for him, but continues to pray for him.  He said that all of his investigators have fallen through, so now they must start from scratch.  We will continue to pray that he and Elder Geiger find those who are searching for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.