Stories of Faith

Dear friends and family,

It's the end of another transfer and this has been my last week with Sister Francis as my companion. I'm so glad I've been able to serve the last three transfers with her. She's incredible! We've had some wonderful experiences with amazing people!

Final selfie with Sis. Francis

Sister Francis, Sister Walker, the Elders, and I got to take two wonderful men on a tour, Brother Higginson and Brother Klopfer from Salt Lake. They are part of the music board of the church, dealing particularly with musical instrument selection, which was super cool! They shared with us amazing stories about their lives and loved ones, experiences that have helped shape them into who they are.

Brother Higginson told us a story of when he was a young father. He and his wife had a small apartment in the basement of their home they were trying to rent out. One day a very rough, tattooed, disheveled man carrying nothing but an army bag knocked on their door. He told Brother Higginson that he had nothing, but was looking for a small place to rent and asked if he could rent out his space.Brother Higginson was hesitant to allow the man to stay, especially with his young children at home, but decided to take the man to the basement to show him the space. As the man looked around, Brother Higginson felt a very clear impression to rent his basement to this man. Against what he thought was his "better judgment," he rented out the apartment to him. Nine years later, Brother Higginson and his family watched this man as he entered into the waters of baptism where he could have a clean start to his life.

Brother Klopfer is originally from Germany. His father was called to be the mission president of the East German Mission during World War II. While serving as mission president he was drafted into the war--serving as a soldier and mission president at the same time. As a soldier, Brother Klopfer's father was captured and placed into a concentration hospital where he was left to starve to death. The church has since recognized this mission president and father as a martyr for the church. After hearing of his father's death, Brother Klopfer's mother wanted to leave for America with her two young sons, Brother Klopfer and his younger brother who was 12 ½.  She decided they needed to split up to cross the border out of East Germany at two different locations. She sent 14-year-old Brother Klopfer alone on a bicycle to cross. He has absolutely no recollection of how he did it or what happened, which his mother told him was truly a blessing from our Heavenly Father. Brother Klopfer's mother and younger brother decided to ride in the car of the new mission president who had permission to cross the border. He told them that when they got to the border guards would surround them and floodlights would be shined on the vehicle, but he left them a promise through the priesthood which he held that if they remained as still and quiet as they could, the guards would not see them. And that's exactly what happened. At the border the floodlights shined right in their faces as they sat in the back seat and the guards looked in but did not see them and allowed the new president to cross. The family found each other on the other side of the border and made their way safely to America. Later Brother Klopfer was part of the hymn selection committee for the last revision of the LDS hymn book in 1985. He and his wife wrote the hymn "Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth."

These men both shared incredible stories of faith--putting their faith in the Lord in times of hardship and decision, trusting that He would guide, help and heal them. Faith in Christ and His Atonement is an active thing! Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things can be made right. Everything bad, good and in-between! We just have to keep trusting and relying on Him. Through Him we can have fresh starts and return to live in our Heavenly Father's presence like Brother Klopfer's hymn, "Father, help us find the way, leading to our home in heaven, where we want to stay."

Love,
Sister Larsen

Other fun happenings this week:

Sis. Roesch!!!  (former companion in Philly 4th Ward)  Or Sydney? :) 
She made a surprise visit to the site with her family who came for the Philly Temple Open House

Check out "Emma's Garden"!  Only in PA can you plant a garden in July and have it look this good!