Blog Suspended

Word on the street is that blogs can have problems with unwanted comments, harassment, etc.  So for now, we are not going to add anything more to this blog.  Sorry, it was a good idea, but hard to control.

More Calls for Spring

The Newest Batch of Calls

The Elders who will be leaving in the spring and summer are:
 Adam Hawker:  Frankfurt, Germany - May 15
Matthew Dale:  So. Africa, Cape Town -
Dan Gardner:  Bangkok, Thailand - May 30 ?
Michael Cobabe: Uganda, Africa -
David Cobabe:  Capetown So. Africa
Preston Larson:  New Jersey, Morristown (Portuguese) - May 30
Will Adams:  Chile (town?  South) - May 9
Christian Purdy:  London, England - June 7
Cooper Campbell:  Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Jordan Strong:  Copenhagen, Denmark - June 20
Nate Brown:  Frankfurt, Germany, June 27
John Koelliker:  Brasil in August
Thomas Barlow:  Santiago, Chile, South  April 18
Josh Smith ? Somewhere crazy.

Congratulations to these young men!  There may be others, please spread the word.
We hope more moms or dads will add to the posts, they are so fun to read.  There will be lots of farewells in the months of May and June

January 3, 2012 email from Elder Matt

 This is a part of Elder Matt's last email:
"It was a good New Years. I love sitting back and reflecting on the best times of the year. I realized that this last year has probably been the best year of my life. So much good has happened! I graduated from high school, received the Melcheziked Priesthood, went through the temple, received my mission call, had Jenni and Danny come home and I had a few months with them, I left on my mission, came to Texas and have had awesome experiences here. It's been such a good year."

The following is a paragraph from Matt's mission "mom" from their mission blog.  The two pictures shown, I found on the blog spot with Matt in them. 
"It has been a big week in the Texas Houston Mission, the highlight being the annual Christmas conference held yesterday.  It was wonderful to be together as a mission to learn, worship, serve and enjoy one another during this wonderful time of year.  The day began with a mission picture taken by a member photographer.  After we gathered for a two-hour morning devotional where President Pingree taught us about the Atonement of Jesus Christ through discussion and power point presentation. We then made sack lunches and boarded buses (paid for by an anonymous church member) and headed to the Houston Food Bank where we had the opportunity to sort food and package rice.  After our service activity we went back to the church for mission Olympics, a Christmas dinner and an evening musical fireside where we heard from many of your talented missionaries on the piano, violin, clarinet and guitar.  We also heard some amazing vocal arrangements.  As you can imagine, it was a long, uplifting, spiritual day for all of us and we thank the many church members and senior missionaries for their tireless efforts in helping to make this day possible for the Texas Houston missionaries. 

Elder Matt De La Mare

I think I am doing great...Elder Matt has been out just shy of two months and I am finally getting around to doing this!  Matt is in Texas now but emailed us pictures yesterday from the MTC.  I am also including others from Texas and his companion/trainer.  Elder Matt is in College Station, Texas, he has an excellent trainer he loves, they are having great success and he is LOVING it!

 Elders Peterson & De La Mare (MTC)

 Elders Glouser and De La Mare (MTC)

 Elders De La Mare, Glouser & Peterson (MTC)

 Elder De La Mare & Elder Scoresby (Houston Temple) 

 Using their holiday spirit creativity!

More Info

Sam Sutton says that he leaves Dec. 28, and his farewell along with about 6 others is on Dec. 18th!!!
  Nate Jesse is also here until December.  Evan Meidell farewell is this Sunday.

A Few More Calls

A few more Elders have been called from the class of '11.  Of course you can see Alex Petersen's post, going to Albania in January.  Dan Pittam will be going to Costa Rica in March.  Jeff Stratford to Taiwan/Taichung in February.  Nate Jesse to Brazil in November.  Michael Williams had his farewell last Sunday to North Carolina.  Evan Meidell to NYC : When?  And Jack Parker to Wisconsin ? When? 
If you know of others or corrections, please let Robin know email..... robinlarson@comcast.net.
CONGRATULATIONS all of you.  We are proud of your decision and of your service.

Alex Peterson life in the MTC

Alex went into the MTC on October 19, 2011.  As we were driving into the MTC he saw Elder Glauser and rolled down his window and yelled Elder Glauser.  Elder Glauser had a great big smile on his face and said Elder Peterson is today the day?  He said pull over right here and I will be your host.  It was really great to have Alex have somebody right there that he knew from the start.  He has also ran into Elder De La Mare.  He loves the district that he is in.  He told me that he knows that he knew everybody in the district before he came to earth.  He says the spirit in the MTC is so strong and he loves it.

Alex is learning Albanian and it is a tough language.  In this last letter that he sent he sounded as though he was a little bit homesick.  They have given seven lessons in Albanian and he tells me there is a reason they are in the MTC for so long learning the language.  He will be in the MTC until January 4, 2012.  He has a teacher that is
Albanian and so he is giving Alex the extra help he needs on the language.  He says the spirit is really strong in the mtc and the only other time he has felt it stronger is the first time in the temple.  He loves the MTC and he is excited to get to Albania to start teaching the gospel.

Elder Holland's MTC visit by Spencer Cook

  September 2


     Elder Holland visited the MTC and his talk was pure inspiration.He took questions at first and these are a few.


     "If JESUS wanted us to know one thing right now, what would it be?" His answer was...
 "That He told the truth." Everything He ever said HAS, Is, or Will come true.


      The man I have been studying my whole life and studying INTENSELY for a month has just sent us a message through an apostle. He told the truth. And how amazing is it that we can have people on earth that can tell us things like that. Without hesitation.

        He also compared us to apostles, saying he is an Apostle with a captial A, and we're apostle's with lowercase a's. He also said we're witnesses of Christ with a lower case w, which would make him a Witness with a captial W. HOLY COW.

     He said,
     " if there were one thing in this life to do  it is to serve a mission."

     "Along with the prophet, missionaries are the most prayed for people in the church."

     "If there were a logo for the church it would be two missionaries."

     "We don't have the right to take away from our appearance, image and impression"

     "Every blessing in his life came through serving a mission."

     After, we stood as he left, and in silence stood outside and watched his car drive passed and away in silence. Hundreds of missionaries stood in a sea of silent, dark suits. It was amazing. 

     I have homework. Google Mormon messages and watch "Sanctify Yourself"
      
     I get to see Tyler and eat with him all the time. It so awesome to have someone from home so close.

      I am exploding with excitement  to actually get out and do some good.

                                                                                                       Stay Safe, Stay  Happy and Stay worthy,

                                                                                                             Love Spencer

Spencer turned 19 in the MTC  September 27th. He said it was THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!! I am re- thinking birthday parties now since I have learned that I can make and send cake, sushi, party hats and silly string.  ( The Mylar bags worked great with ice pack's and  he got it by 1:00 in the afternoon.)  Who knew it could be so simple?

                                                                                                                IT"S  A SMALL WORLD:)

     "I am Charlies cousin's Zone Leader. So we got a new district Wednesday, and me and Elder Beeson got to welcome them as Zone Leaders. One of their names is Elder Morris and he's Charlie's cousin! Cool, huh? It was fun to see their faces when I told them I just turned nineteen. One of them said, "Woah, you seem so much older than us!" I remember thinking that about our Zone Leaders as we got here.

Spencer Cook, MTC Aug 2011

Hola, mi familia!                                                                               August 15, 2011

I just might be the youngest missionary here. according to Professor McGungall.
I am learning to love my district. Our own little GODS ARMY. Learning Spanish. I'm working at all times, even meal times, so I understand why people say it's hard. But in no way is it negative. I work because I love it and I want to. I am saying prayers in Spanish now. Bam!

Mi nambre es Elder Cook, y say de la Iglesia              My name is Elder Cook and I am from The Church
 de Jesuecristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias      of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm a missionary
 Soy un misionario, y tenoo.un mensaie para isted      and I have a message for you.

Yesterday we taught our first lesson in Spanish. And while our actor investigator ran others completely into the ground, we worked all day preparing and were able to leave him with a Book of Mormon and a commitment to read it and come to church. Ha, well at least that's what I think he said..

I love you guys,

Elder Spencer T. Cook

Calls so far

Here are the new Elders and their calls so far: Matt DelaMare:  Houston, Tx 10/12??    Tyler Glauser: Santiago E, Chile  8/31?   Spencer Cook  Santiago So, Chile 8/10      Will Pittam:  Peru, Lima E 12/4      Max Handy:  Philipines, (city?) 12/18?       Sam Sutton:  Birmingham, England  (date?)   Charlie Morris:  So. Korea  (date?)   Steven Divver:  Germany (?)  /    Jake Bardsley:  Taiwan, Taichung  Jan. 18     Wilson Meek  (???)  George Nielsen:  Florida, Tampa Spanish  12/28

Some of this information is from the grapevine.  Email HHmish2011@gmail.com if you have updates or clarifications or know of anyone who is missing.  Congratulations new Elders!!

Test Post

Just checking in to see that everything looks good.

This post is here to tell you a little bit about this blog...

1. A place where we can all meet to share stories about our boys
2. Easy and almost instant access.
3. An e-mail account designed just for this blog. (The e-mail is hhmish2011@gmail.com) Contact Robin Larson if you want to get the password for this account and then gain access to the blog!

Happy Blogging

P.S. Thanks to Ellen for creating this blog!