I'm free! I spent the past few days in the MTC quarentine for the flu. As I said last week, on Monday I tested negative for the flu. But then, on Wednesday I woke up with a fever and let's just say it's a good thing I hadn't eaten much the night before. So it was back to the doctor to be tested yet again. It was positive this time so they sent me to lockdown. I went back to the residence hall to pack things for a few days and a security guard with a sweet british accent came and picked me up in one of those little electric cars. He drove me to the "quarentine building" and I was the only sister on the floor for the first day. I wasn't very happy because I had a fever and just wanted to crawl in bed and die, but I had to make the bed first. GRRRR! Then I couldn't take any medicine because I had to wait for them to bring me food. So I slept until lunch came, forced down a few bites and took some ibuprofen and tamiflu and then crashed again until dinner. By the way, they bring you SO MUCH FOOD when you're in quarentine. I didn't even come close to eating half of it. That's pretty incredible when you think about how much food I can normally pack away!
I sound like I'm complaining a lot, really it was a pretty good experience. If anything, I learned what it would feel like to be a leper. We had to put masks on when people knocked on our door and then half of the time they would have put the food or mail or whatever they were bringing on the floor and be as far away as possible when we opened the door. As soon as they saw that we got whatever they were delivering they would disappear. Needless to say, I really appreciated the people that actually handed things to me like I wasn't diseased.
Anyway, after dinner that first day I decided to start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning to see how far I could get. The original plan was to finish the whole thing, but I grossly underestimated the time that I would be sleeping. I ended up getting to Alma 31.
The second day in there I got a roommate, but she slept the whole time so all I did was read and eat and I took one nap. I read 170 pages that day. Does anyone realize just how awesome the Book of Mormon is? That may sound like a stupid question, but it is so amazing that anyone at any time in their life can find something that applies to them in there. Besides that, the plot is so involved, there is no possible way that Joseph Smith could have just pulled that out of a hat.
Day 3 I got a study plan from one of my teachers so I didn't have much time to read because I was studying spanish and whatnot. The doctor got IT to check out a laptop to me so that I could do some lessons on the computer. That was super nice so I actually had some activities to do to reinforce what I was learning.
Saturday I was so excited because I was going to be freed, but the doctor was really late getting there. I called the front desk to see what was going on and wouldn't you know that the day I was going to get out was the day of the BYU homecoming parade. All the roads were blocked off... That was the longest three hours of my life...
So anyway, I am once again free and I never thought I would be so happy to be able to see people and talk to someone. Being alone for so long changes you a lot. I almost forgot, though, one night before I went to bed I heard some elders on the floor above me singing a song about the swine flu written to the music of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It was AWESOME! Turns out that one of the elders that helped write it is in my zone so I got the words from him. That is going in my journal because it seriously made me so happy.
The adjustment after quarentine has probably been the hardest part of all of this. I got used to being able to just get in bed whenever I was tired. Not a luxury that I have anymore...I have these huge dark circles under my eyes all the time and I probably look like death, but I'm happy to have a structured schedule again.
We are supposed to get our travel plans this Thursday so you'll probably be hearing about that next week. I can't believe that we only have two weeks left. I don't know any spanish! AHHHH!
I'm out of time, so until next week. I love you all.
Hermana Larsen

I didn't get a chance to get this picture until the 11th. It took me long enough!

First day in the MTC. Don't you love our dork dots? Left to right: Hermanas Tucker, Hogewoning (the one that got transferred), & Gwynn

The District before Elder Crawford left. From left to right: Hermana Gwynn, Larsen, Tucker, Elders Barker, Crawford, Harden, Fisher, Mortensen, Cook

One side of the laundry room. Washers on bottom, dryers on top. There are two more rows. It takes a lot of machines to do laundry for 2000 missionaries a week.

I'm able to keep my bedroom clean, but the classroom is a different story since tht is really where we live.

Doing laundry with Hermana Gwynn.

This week flew by just like all of the other ones. After this thursday we only have two more teaching appointments in the TRC. (That's how we measure our time here.) That's so crazy! I'm not even close to being ready to go out in the field and start talking to people in spanish! I guess no one ever really is, though. I am excited to be totally immersed in the language because that's when I learn the most.
Our first lesson in spanish went pretty well. I wouldn't say that the "investigator" was really converted all the way, but hey, we got the main points of the lesson across and were able to testify. It was super hard, but I felt the spirit as we taught testifying that what we teach is true.
I accompanied my companion in church yesterday. She did a violin solo. It was a Jenny Oaks Baker arrangement. (I know Kendra knows what I'm talking about.) "Love is Spoken Here." It went well and I really enjoyed being able to play the piano.
For the Brown's: do you know Brother and Sister Horne? They told some stories that sounded really familiar about going to Baremejio?? and building bathrooms with family to family in 2004. Anyway, he is a counselor in my branch presidency. They're awesome!
I get to be a host missionary this Wednesday, (assuming I don't get quarentined.) I tested negative for the flu today, but sometimes they do it anyway if you're sick enough. I have a doctor's appointment at 4:00 today. Pray for me! Anyway, I'm excited to get to help people in their first day here. That was a fun one for me...
Kendra, I thought I'd let you know that I met Brother and Sister Holt while I was at my service assignment. They are really nice and they have nothing but good things to say about you. Thanks for being such a good example of how a latter-day-saint should act. I also met Sister Chamberlain in line at the bookstore. She was the one that recognized me first. She and her companion bore their spanish testimonies to us and you can tell her parents that she is doing extremely well with the language. I think she was probably better than me and I've been here 3 weeks longer.
Sorry my messages have been kind of scatter-brained lately. Hopefully I make some kind of sense. I'm excited to be able to see the Greenhalgh's! I love you all and hope you are all healthy and well. (Both spiritually and physically:). Have a great week!

This week went by so quickly! I don't really have a whole lot to say because I can't remember much about what happened. Yesterday I played my cello in Sacrament Meeting and my Comp. played her violin while two elders sang. Everyone else did well, but I've been having a hard time adjusting to a different cello. I miss mine!
Crystal, thanks for the letter! The rest of you...you have a little room for improvement. ;) Just kidding. Anyway, this week was the beginning of class in total spanish. Holy cow! I have to admit, I can understand more than I originally thought, but the speaking is a little iffy. Hopefully it will come quickly with practice.
To the Brown's, I'm so sorry for your loss. I loved Sister Merrill! I know that she lived the kind of life that has earned her wonderful blessings. I pray for Tani to have strength in such a difficult time, and I know that the Lord gives us trials so that we can be strengthened. I'll remember all of you in my prayers!
The mission continues to pass at an alarming rate. In relief society yesterday Sister Martha Johnson of the General Relief Society Board told us that missions are so hard because the Lord is stretching the devil and his hell out of us. How true is that?! It is such a refining experience and sometimes I don't feel up to the task, but I know that the Lord knows when we are stretched too far and He won't break us. We just need to be put under stress so that we can be strengthened and grow.
Thanks for all of your love and support. I love you all and I know that this gospel is true. It is the ONLY way that we can be happy.
Hermana Larsen

This week was quite the doozy. We had been trying to get up and go to the early morning exercise classes, but we soon found out why we have the scripture that tells us not to run faster than we have strength. Thursday I got so exhausted that I physically hurt. I got these monster knots in my shoulder that were giving me headaches. Luckily, one of my companions' family has that same problem so she was amazing to try and rub them out for me. She had to rub so hard that I felt like I had bruises the next day.
That day was also when we were supposed to go to the TRC and teach. I felt so discouraged and didn't have the spirit with me at all. I figured out that every Thursday is going to be difficult so that I can be humbled enough to be able to rely on the spirit when I teach. The lesson turned out pretty well and our "investigator" accepted the invitation to be baptized. Cool! We decided after that day that we are going to forego the exercise classes until we can figure out how to get to bed earlier. (Especially since all of us have been having a hard time falling asleep.)
Sorry if this was pretty short. After conference I felt more compelled to find even more time to study than what we have set apart. How about that talk by Elder Holland?! All of us were sitting there with our pens in hand, but we couldn't take notes because we were all staring, mesmerized, at the screen. What an amazing testimony! I hope all of you know that I too have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the gospel. It is so important and if you have not yet received that witness of its truthfulness, PLEASE ASK FOR IT! God answers ALL of our prayers.
I love you all! Give my congratulations to Kord and Liza. I hope all of you have a good week and enjoy the weather. I know I will! I love the fall!
Hermana Larsen