WEEK #8 - "STRIKE ME DOWN!!!" - The Emperor

Wow. 

That's my week :) This one you'll want to grab some popcorn for! And you also may want to re-watch Star Wars Return of the Jedi to understand this email.... :)

Monday: September 9th

We got to teach someone today and they asked about baptism because she really wanted to be baptized with her kids! She wants the influence of God more abundantly in her life. We were so excited to see someone so willing to follow Christ's example of being baptized and receive greater joy in doing so! What a blessing it is to be able to help people unite themselves and their families to the true fold of God :) I hope they can continue to prepare themselves and have a desire to learn more and rely on Christ along the way!

Tuesday: September 10th

Drove up for district council and then exchanged with Elder Berry as Elder Gunson got to stay up in Cimarron this time! He handed me the keys to the car and I was so excited! This'll be the first time that I get to drive a car on my mission! Elder Berry and I got to Nucla safe, I loved being able to drive through Uncompahgre myself.

First time driving, and exchanges with Elder Berry!

We talked to this man who was obviously drunk, he kept joking about how he's going to take us to the strip club after our missions... he told us "two years and we're going to the strip joint, just put on those eye guards like the horses do!" Oh my gosh... we just laughed at how ridiculous the people here are sometimes haha!! It started pouring down rain and lightning, I made us tract houses just for the fun of being drenched completely :)

Wednesday: September 11th

Elder Berry and I, with me driving, headed out to a lesson with a woman named Tina. She told us that she knew she had been careless with her lifestyle and wanted to make changes in her life that would set a good example for her kids. We all felt the Spirit really strong and we invited her to be baptized! With tears in her eyes (and ours haha) she accepted our invitation and is willing to let us help her make much needed changes in order to follow Christ and be baptized. :) 

First time making pancakes! Haha, ill need help for college for sure...

Now for the CRAZY story haha! We drove up to Norwood and prayed about what street we should go walk down. It was the SAME street we went to 4 weeks ago.... Mesa Street. *Cue suspenseful music* Haha, Elder Berry and I were walking down the street and met this man watering his flowers and asked if we could introduce ourselves. He looked up and said "Oh, I know who you are" and then just begins to rant and swear at us with every swear word under the sun and yelling all manner of harsh and angry words.... at that instant my mind flashes back to when I was watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi at the scene where the Emperor can sense Luke's anger and the Emperor's same words entered into my mind while listening to this disillusioned man...."I can feel your anger.....STRIKE ME DOWN!!! And your journey to the dark side will be complete...." I'm brought back to reality and realize that this angry man is still cursing at two boys who's average age is literally 19. We thanked him for his words of "encouragement" and continued on our way. I always love it when I find relatable Star Wars moments everywhere I go, haha! That man's journey to the dark side is complete :)

Second CRAZY story!! This happened directly after the Emperor situation haha. We knocked on a door, realizing there was a recently used blunt on the windowsill, but a man named Jonathon answered the door and let us in! He was playing chess with his friend Brannon and said that he found his "Jesus friends" haha. :) He asked us "why do you follow Jesus?" And we had a great discussion on that! We all became instant friends. They tried to give me a beer but were surprised when I told them NO first and then that I was only 18 haha! :) We talked about the Book of Mormon but then Brannon said he forfeited his chess match with Jonathon because he was being beat really bad by him haha. Jonathon then jumps up with his beer in his hand and challenges ME to a chess match! That was his first mistake... haha ;) I accepted the challenge but then I told him, "If I win you have to take this Book of Mormon and I get to setup a return appointment with you." Jonathon was laughing at that but accepted the terms. So we setup the board and proceeded the battle. Everyone had their odds on Jonathon because I was only 18.... lets just say that I walked away without that Book of Mormon in my bag anymore, haha! I took a picture of the final checkmate, I beat him so badly that he only took four of my pawns! I must've had God on my side cause God probably really wanted him to get that Book of Mormon haha!! Thank you to my friends Raf, Dexin, and especially Nathan in high school for wasting so many hours playing chess with me our Senior year, that prepared me for this moment haha :) What a hilarious experience! We shook hands and are great friends now haha, it's so awesome making friends with truly random people. I mean I played a drunk, high man over a game of chess to give him a Book of Mormon for heavens sake! Haha :) I love being a missionary...

 The legendary chess match, notice the beer can? Haha

Thursday: Septemeber 12th

Happy Birthday Londyn!!! Wait a minute? Cant believe you're 17 years old haha, hope you had a good one! We re-exchanged today and it was good to be back with Elder Gunson. I loved being able to drive around Naturita and through the Uncompahgre mountains, hopefully I can drive sometime again. 

Ya we cool

Friday: September 13th

It was pretty cold this morning but I got to run my dirt driveway with my altitude mask I used for wrestling season, it was so hard but definitely rewarding! We had a really great lesson with Roberta talking about God's priesthood authority. Basically the same power and authority from God that Christ used to bless people in His day is found and used in the same manner in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! What a blessing it is to know this. I've seen this same priesthood power bless my life in many ways!

Matching sweater and cats day with Elder Gunson haha

Saturday: September 14th

Today was pretty relaxed. We met two Austrian motorcyclists who drove up to us so I spoke a little German with them to point them to a motel haha!

Sunday: September 15th

Church was great today, the main theme we talked about was forgiveness. Never withhold the chance for someone to change their heart, we must show them kindness and forgiveness first. Then the rest is between them and the Lord. :)

Love you all!! Have a great week

Love,

Elder LaRose

P.O. Box 821

Nucla, Colorado 81424

EMAIL: keldon.larose@missionary.org