Larson Family News

New Blog Address

2009-08-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have decided to create a new blog that will be more specific to our family and less oriented toward our mission work since we are currently not on the mission field. The new address will be: larsonjournal.blogspot.comI hope that you will visit the new site! --Elysia Larson

We're in Minnesota

2009-06-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

We moved to Minnesota about a week ago. We are currently staying with Ethan's parents until God provides a job for Ethan and a home for us. Please email us if you would like our address and phone number.

Moving Soon

2009-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Our plans are to move to Minnesota the week after the kids get out of school here in Boise. We need to get there soon so that Ethan can look for a job. For those of you in Idaho who are reading this, please feel free to call us or see us before we leave. We attend the first service at church on Sunday mornings so can be seen there, or you may catch us at our house on Mornin Mist St. We will miss you all.

God is faithful.

May 2009 Newsletter

2009-05-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Dear faithful friends and family:

In March we asked you to pray for us as we have been seeking God’s will and direction for our future. Thank you to all of you who spent time in prayer and fasting with us.

It has been a really hard month and a half for us. Several things have developed that we believe God has used to close the door for us to return to Ukraine for now. Many factors are involved in terms of our church, our vision, and our personal lives.

In March our leadership decided to make some changes in the way it oversees and supports us as missionaries, and after some discussion, we believe those changes are not going to work for us. We have considered some other support and sending organizations but after lots of prayer the Lord has not given us a clear vision and direction of how to move forward after these changes. Though our hearts’ desire is to serve there, it seems it is not God’s will for us at this time.

These changes have come after a year and a half of uncertainty and waiting, and in the past few months we have become more aware of how the stress and instability of this time has taken a toll on everyone in our family. This awareness has also been a factor in our decision. After lots of prayer and counsel we think it would be good to establish some stability and to work to strengthen everyone in our family.

These have been difficult decisions as our hearts and the direction of our lives have been in missions and in Ukraine for the past five years. The change in support and direction of ministry means that everything in our lives seems to be changing. We are thankful that God remains the same and that His purposes and plans and love for us remain.

Our present plan is to complete the school year here in Boise, and then most likely to move to Minnesota in order to be near our families. We ask that you pray for us to find adequate employment, a home, a church, and the care of our children. We hope to be able to continue to serve in the ministry and in teaching, so we are praying for an open door for that.

We are so humbled and unspeakably thankful for how you have prayed for us and supported us so generously over these past five years. We are very sad to see this effort come to an end. We pray that God would open a door for us to return to the mission field if that is His will in the future. We trust that the Lord has used our lives to help those we have served. Thank you for all you have given for Christ’s Kingdom. May you be eternally rewarded and may Christ be glorified. We will be transitioning in the next two months and will be ceasing our support through Calvary Chapel Boise after June.

Our email addresses remain the same.

May God be glorified.

With much love and thanks,
Ethan and Elysia Larson and family

P.S. If you are still interested in supporting missions in Ukraine and in the former Soviet Union we have a number of fruitful missionaries and ministries we can heartily recommend to you. Please contact us.

Cell phone gone...

2009-05-16T18:59:00.001-07:00

FYI...my cell phone fell out of my purse sometime yesterday and cannot be found. I have disconnected my phone number and can now be reached on Ethan's cell phone only.

Thanks!

--Elysia

Fun Day

2009-04-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Resurrection Day from the Larson Kids!

Be Thou My Vision

2009-04-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Dallan Forgaill (translated from the Irish by
Mary E. Byrne, Versified by Eleanor H. Hull) taken from wikipedia.

Bruneau Dunes

2009-04-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

Lizzy on a hike to the big dune

The Larson squint....fair eyes don't fare too well in the bright sunlight.

At the top! Gretchen and Peter John

Daddy and Amy enjoying the sand.

Amy loved playing in the sand. The kids were covered in sand by the time we left. It was a blast.

Triumphant Peter John!

In the middle of southern Idaho, there is a state park with some huge sand dunes. This is a rare sight in these parts. Who knows how they developed. We drove down there last Saturday and really enjoyed the perfect day in the 60s. The air was calm and the view was beautiful. We walked half-way up the huge dune and I planted myself with Lizzy and Amy to play in the sand. Peter John led the way all the way up to the top with shovel in hand and a big smile on his face. Ethan and Gretchen also went with him and climbed to the top. What a great day. The only mishap was when a couple of dogs came close to our little play area on the dune and decided to chase each other. They took a quick turn and ran over Amy knocking her into the sand. Both parties apologized in a half-hearted embarrassed way, but it was okay. She recovered pretty quickly and started shoveling sand again. The most fun part was hearing about how Peter John went all the way to the top, then went down a canyon, climbed up another crest, went down, and then climbed to the top of the big dune again. He ran all the way down the side of the big dune to tell me all about it.

March of Prayer Pt. 5

2009-03-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is a note from Elysia about some things God is showing me:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Ps. 32:8

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading. It is a life of faith, not of intellect and reason, but a life of knowing Who makes us 'go.' The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success." --Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest, March 19th.

God is showing us that He is the One who we follow. We can never know or foresee how it is all going to work out, but we trust the One who is in charge.

Please continue to pray for God's leading and confirmation of His will as we pray about moving to Ukraine.

Happy Spring!

2009-03-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

These were taken last week, but they are still a great reminder of the new season that begins today. Happy Spring to you all in the northern hemisphere!

Seeing with God's Eyes by Elysia

2009-03-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh." 2 Cor. 5:16
How often we look at people with human eyes! Jesus died for all, the Bible says. How often we look at other people's works and ministry, and we can think critical, judgmental thoughts. If the works that we do are done for others rather than for God, then Jesus says we already have our reward. "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Mt. 6:3-4 So we, the doers, ought to do everything in the fear of the Lord and for the Lord. And we, the observers, ought to entrust others to the Lord Jesus Christ for the true spiritual work that He is doing, that is, by the way, UNSEEN.

Tushy

2009-03-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

Peter: "Hey Mom what is tushy?"
Elysia: "That's another name for your bottom"

Peter: "NO, my teacher said it's made or Rice and Fish."
Elysia: "That's Sushi honey."

Peter: "Oh."

March of Prayer Pt 4

2009-03-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Prayer Warriors:
God has continued to put Ukraine on our hearts and minds. We are beginning to pray and prepare for moving back to this country. Please pray that God would open doors for the work that He has prepared for us to do. When we first went to Ukraine, God gave us a vision to serve in that country through equipping the Church through biblical, theological instruction. May we be obedient to the vision that He first gave us.

Specifically, we ask that you pray for:
That God would continue to confirm His will. and that we would obey Him.
Continued faith and vision to move forward.
The place that God would have us to move.
Good communication with the churches in Ukraine.

Please pray for our children during a time of transition. Pray that God would give us wisdom in leading them.

Please pray for good communication with our home church and its leaders here in Boise as well as our supporters throughout the world.
We need to improve the way we send out emails to our supporters. Please pray for someone who is computer savvy to help us with this.

March of Prayer Pt 3

2009-03-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

I spent last Friday in prayer out in the desert south of Boise. I was encouraged in a book I read recently about reading the last couple chapters of Job once a day for a month. The idea is to see how God is utterly in control of all things and does as a matter of course, things we could not even understand, He controls events we do not even see, He has dominion over powers and forces that overwhelm us and uses them to accomplish His purposes.

In those chapters, God humbles Job, not to shame him, but to show Job that any understanding he thinks he might have cannot even begin to comprehend the ways of God, the control of God over all things, or even understand His purposes.

Again, God is not shaming Job. This revelation is grace. It is not to answer Job, but to bring Job back to the place where he was at the beginning of the book...an utter confidence that God is in control of all and will resolve everything to His perfect will and holy intentions. That is certainly an act of Grace which saves us from our human reason and anxious drive to resolve what we cannot understand.

Praise God for His acts of Grace, that He speaks to us and assures us of His control, His mercy, His purposes.
That is what God is showing us. Thank you for praying for us.

March of Prayer Pt. 2

2009-03-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

Further news on my health: I saw another doctor last Monday and he believes the pain in my kidney is related to the scarring from a previous kidney surgery. He really examined the area by touch, and every area that hurt was centered around that scar. He did some stretching and massaging of that area. Hopefully over time this can improve with the aid of massage. Pray that we can learn about how to manage this pain. Continue to pray for healing.

This doctor also suggested that I have a food allergy. I have had stomach problems for many years, so please pray about whether or not we should do further testing and follow up to confirm this diagnosis.

Please continue to lift up our kids during this time of seeking the Lord and transition.

Please pray for a strong sending team, prayer team, as well as improved communications, via blogs, email, and snail mail.

Pray that we would find our strength and help in God and not be tempted to fear in any way.

Pray that we would be full of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that God would be glorified.

March of Prayer Pt 1: Peace! Be Still!

2009-03-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Be still, and KNOW that I Am GOD.
I WILL be exalted among the nations
I WILL be exalted in ALL the Earth.
PS 46:10

Thanks to many of you who have written us back with encouragements and commitments to pray. We thank God for you! You are an answer to our prayers! Today I (Ethan) was asked to teach an additional class for the next term of School of Ministry today; Romans plus Revelation As I considered it, I began to count the weeks. If we want to use the return tickets that we have to Europe, they must be used before June 10 which is one year after we arrived.

...14 weeks!!

Whoa!! I suddenly feel totally overwhelmed!! My mind begins to race! I seize my runaway brain and say Stop! God is in control! If any of this is going to be Him, then ALL of this is going to be HIM! We have no timeline but HIS, He may have something different, or he may put it all together by then.

But He already knows it now, and has a plan now. He will guide, provide, and reveal. We need to be both dilligent and resting in Him.

Whoooh, We need to Pray! Let's start by praying for His peace, in mind and heart.

Be still, and KNOW that I Am GOD.
I WILL be exalted among the nations
I WILL be exalted in ALL the Earth.
PS 46:10

March Prayer Update

2009-03-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

We want to thank you all for all your prayers and support over the last nine months as we have been in the States. We wanted to update you on what is happening and most importantly ask for committed prayer for us over the next month. Here is what’s happening…

Thank you for praying for Elysia’s laparoscopy in January. The doctor did not find endometriosis, which is good news. However, he did diagnose a uterus condition called adenomyosis and is very confident that it can be treated with some hormones. That is prayer # 1: That the treatment can begin this month, and she will experience some relief.

The other main outcome of that procedure was to eliminate endometriosis as a possible cause of the flank/kidney pain, which it did. The flank/kidney pain has been the major issue over the last year, and this was pretty much the last test they could think of. So after a year of examinations, scans, and medicines, the doctors have concluded that they cannot find anything wrong with her. All the tests have shown her body systems to be functioning completely normally… Thank God!

Their summary diagnosis is that her flank pain is simply unexplained chronic pain. If the pain was severe or debilitating they would treat her with pain meds, but since it is neither, they have advised against that. We agree, she has had this pain for a year now and continues to function, it is simply not to the level where narcotic or other pain meds are needed. The main doctor we have been seeing works as a medical missionary in Africa. He was the one who gave the final diagnosis of chronic pain. He also added that Elysia was not at risk, and he saw no medical reason to keep us from going overseas.

All of this brings us to a point where we have to make some decisions and future plans. When we came back to the states last June we did so to find out if something was “wrong,” or something that threatened Elysia’s health and safety. After a year of looking, the doctors’ conclusion is that there is nothing wrong.

We have one last doctor appointment scheduled for Monday with an Osteopath. He is going to be looking for another source for the pain, or an allergy or food related problem, so we shall see if he finds anything. That is Prayer # 2. Only God knows.

So, the question is what to do now? This is the question we will need to decide on over the next few weeks, and so we need prayer. We know that we have come this far by the sustaining grace of God and through the power of prayer. We have seen God do so many amazing things for us over these past years as you have banded together to pray. We have much to consider and need to see the Lord confirm the direction we should go. It is our heart to serve Him, and our desire to serve, equip, and strengthen His church in Ukraine.

We ask all of you to pray for us, and would like to ask if some (or many!) of you would commit a specific day this month to fast and pray for us and the direction God has for our lives. You can fast a meal, or the day, or fast something for the day and pray for us. If you would like to commit a day for this please email us and let us know the date that works for you and we will give you specific things to pray for that day. We will also set up a post on our blog to give prayer updates every couple days. If you use an RSS, Atom or equivalent reader we invite you to subscribe to our blogs, the addresses are below. It really is the best way to keep up with us.

We have much more to say but the main reason for writing is to ask you to pray, so let’s start there. Would you take a minute right now and pray for us? Also, ask God how you might pray for us over this next month. We know God is going to direct us and give us answers as we seek Him.

Here are some ways you can pray for us.

1.) That God would give us sensitivity, the gift of faith, discernment, and wisdom, to understand His will for our future, and through all of this, our lives would glorify Him.

2.) He would give us quietness and peace and time to wait upon Him.

3.) He would give healing and resolution to Elysia’s pain, and faith to move forward.

4.) That He would provide divine appointments and confirmations of His will.

We are so blessed and honored to serve Him with you. We are so thankful for the great team of prayer and financial supporters God has given us, and thank you so much for praying for us.

There will be a lot going on this month, so we will send out news as it comes and updates on our blogs.

Let’s see what God will do.

In His Grace, Mercy, and Peace
The Larsons

Keep in touch through email or our blogs:
hope4ukraine.blogspot.com
ethanlarson.blogspot.com

Seeing the Glory of God by Elysia

2009-02-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

When Isaiah saw God, holy, high and lifted up, and glorious, he responded by expressing his shame and remorse for his own sin and the sin of his nation. When God cleansed Isaiah's sin and spoke to him, Isaiah responded to God with willingness and obedience to go to the nation of Judah who had also sinned. What is our response to God's Glory and His voice of grace in our lives? Will we answer like Isaiah in the book of Isaiah 6:8?
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Snowy Mountain

2009-02-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

We drove up to Bogus Basin last weekend to enjoy a little snow. It snows in Boise but usually melts within a day or two. The kids really enjoyed it. Peter John and Gretchen did a little mountain climbing up the snowy side of the mountain. We got to watch the skiers and snowboarders at Bogus, but didn't do any skiing ourselves. Here are a few pix of the day:

A Note From Elysia

2009-01-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

It is sort of embarrassing for me to talk about all these intimate health issues, but because everyone is concerned for me, here is the update. I am recovering pretty well from surgery on Wednesday. The doctor did not see any endometriosis. He did see, however, that my uterus is pretty unhealthy which explains the uterine pain I have been having. The diagnosis for that is adenomyosis. My kidney pain remains a mystery.

Thank you for praying.

Some Good News

2009-01-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

We wanted to update you on some great answers to prayer, and provisions that God has given us in the past few days. We did a lot of praying and thinking over our Christmas break about what God wanted us to do next in pursuing an answer to Elysia's health problems. We asked in our December update, and in the letter we sent out for you to pray for us about all this. We want to thank you for praying! And, wanted to let you know what God is doing in answer to prayer.

After the doctors concluded that there was nothing wrong with Elysia's kidney, we didn't have many options to move forward. However her Ob/Gyn and another doctor had mentioned that we might want to consider a laprascopy to look at the presence of endometriosis as a possible explanation for Elysia's pain. We were told this would probably be expensive, but it was the only option being offered to move forward. So after we got home from our Christmas trip, we asked the medical missions group that is helping us if they could set that up for us, and we would trust God to provide.

Last Thursday they told us that St. Luke's hospital had offered to do the procedure for the Medical Missions group as charity! It will cost us little or nothing!! Then they called us yesterday and said that they had gotten an opening for the surgery and Elysia is scheduled for next Wednesday!! WOW!

God answers Prayer! Would you pray for us again please?

That God would continue to receive the Glory through all this,

That He would use the situation, and use us to show His faithfulness, His trustworthyness, and provision in all things.

That He would prepare and protect Elysia, and use this surgery to reveal what is wrong.

That He would bring healing to her body.

He would guide us in and through this whole process of seeking a cure and resolution to show His will and direction for us.

Thank You all for your prayers, love and support!
We will update you as to what we find out.

Our Baby is One!

2009-01-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

Amy turned one year old today! May you be blessed, Amy, and may your life be a blessing.

Travel Plans

2008-12-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming, and we are traveling tomorrow to Utah to visit Ethan's family who are gathering at his brother David's house. On Friday we will make the long drive to Minnesota to see Elysia's family. We expect to arrive there on Saturday night. If you need to get in touch with us, please email Ethan or me, or you may call us at David Larson's house or Mel Frank's house next week. God bless you all!

Baby's First Christmas

2008-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from our little one!

Gretchen's Poem

2008-12-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas Words From A-Z

by Gretchen Larson

A is for Angels, the Shepherd saw.

B is for Baby, that Jesus was.

C is for Christ, Who is in Heven.

D is for Donkey, that Mary rode.

E is for Exaltation, What you shoud do.

F is for Frankincense, that Wise-men brout.

G is for Glory, that Angels sang.

H is for Heaven, the angels live in.

I is for Immanuel, God with us.

J is for Jesus, Oh my Lord, In a good way.

K is for King, some people call Him.

L is for Lord, I love Him the best.

M is for Myrrh, that Wisemen brout.

N is for Nazareth, that Joseph lived in.

O is for Oh Holy Night, that Christmas song.

P is for Presents, that you get.

Q is for Quiet, Jesus was.

R is for Rejoice, Angels did.

S is for Stable, cows and for sheep.

T is for Tell, Shepherds did.

U is for Under, Innkeeper said.

V is for Voice, That came out of angels mouths.

W is for Wise-Men, that brout 3 gifts.

X is for X-Mas, Santa made up.

Y is for Ye, Angels say.

Z is for Zebra, Not Christmasy!

Boys Will Be Boys, Girls will....

2008-12-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

We got some snow yesterday and it actually managed to stay on the streets and became gloriously hardpacked. That kinda street stirs up my old Rally racing propensities...

Nothing like gettin' my old Datsun 510 street racer reved up and sideways... Or Brigitta, my old VW Bug; Queen of the Alley Rally...

Yep, back in the day.

Today I own a minivan.

When we were going to school today I was having what little fun the minivan would allow; front wheel spin on the hard pack. (woo woo) Thank God I don't have traction control or the thrill really would be gone. I did try a little swerving and throttle modulation, but overcoming the front drive, horrible weight bias, and nearly indefeatable understeer...well, that's another thing.

Here comes the difference;

Peter seems to instinctively dig it...

"WOW Dad!!! Do that AGAIN!!, How did you DO that?? That was Coool! Dad! do that AGAIN Dad!!"

Gretchen on the other hand instinctively becomes Chicken Little

(...and I am quoting verbatim here)

"Daddy!! Stop that!! What would happen if you bashed into those cars!!"

(what?... that one car? ....parked 20 feet up the hill on the driveway?)

Though she has never seen that happen (thank God) ...and never would at 20 MPH,

she is instantly able to imagine the worst case scenario, ...that defies all physics.

I have to calm Gretchen down:

"It's OK, Gretch, Daddy just spun the tires a bit, ...we're not going to die"

I have to calm Peter down to, ...just not in the same way:

"...No son, I can't really spin out for you."

"No, we aren't going to hit anything, ...Sorry."

... and,

"No son, unfortunately we are not allowed to drive up in the yards either. Sorry bud."

I Love my Boy! He so BOY! I love My Girl! She's so GIRL!

Just like it should be.

December Prayer Update

2008-12-13T19:31:00.000-08:00

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”
Isaiah 60:1-3

The first Sunday in Advent we read these verses and talked with our children about Jesus, the Light of the World. We turned out all the lights in the house, and lit one candle, and saw how powerful that light is to put the darkness away. God has shown His light and glory into the deep darkness of the world. Let us not be ashamed of our glorious Savior as we celebrate His birth this month! Our Light has come!

Merry Christmas to you all! It has been a crazy year for us to say the least. At the start of the year we were in Hungary preparing to move back to minister in Ukraine. The plan was to wrap up the school year at the Bible College and be in Ukraine by mid-summer. But in March Elysia began having pain in her kidney area. We had numerous tests done in Hungary but eventually realized we would have to return to the States to see if we could find the cause.

We arrived in Boise in June and began the long slow saga of trying to find the source of the pain. After almost four months of testing, waiting, and a couple of procedures, the doctors have concluded that her kidneys function well, and there is no apparent problem with them. We praise God for that!! The source of her pain remains a mystery however. They feel that part of the pain might be related to scar tissue and inflammation from previous kidney operations and have started her on some meds to see if that can help. They also want to explore some other areas/causes, so we will be meeting with a few other specialists after the first of the year. We are reminded that these are mere tents, and we do “groan!!” But God is victorious, and inwardly we are being renewed daily.

We continue to pray for healing and direction, as all this puts our future direction into question. Our desire is to return to Ukraine, but we need to get some healing or resolution and know all is well before we can head back. The uncertainty can be pretty intense and we often alternate between faith, confusion, rest, and anxiety. The trials have caused us to grow in faith; not always comfortable, but needed, and good and ultimately for His glory. God has really challenged us to hold to Him and trust Him for all, and find our sufficiency and satisfaction in Him alone. He has called us and will use us for His Glory where He wills. …He is LORD, and our times are in His hands. Ps. 31:15

We are so thankful to all of you who pray for us and support us! We are humbled by all God has given to us through you, and how you have loved and supported us. May He receive the glory and honor. We ask you to please pray for us as we will have to make some big decisions based on what we see in the next few months. Pray that we are full of faith, and hear the Lord, and see His hand. Most of all that HE be glorified in and through us!

In the meantime we are trying to be productive for the Kingdom. Ethan has been teaching at the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry here in Boise, teaching a college-age small group, and volunteering his time writing for different ministries of the church. We are blessed to mentor some of the SOM students as well, and have had several opportunities to share about missions and God’s work in Eastern Europe at churches and with different small groups. We have even been able to meet and share with some Ukrainians living here in Boise!

Our kids are doing great. Gretchen and Peter are in a Christian school at our church. They are learning so much in school and with friends, and they are really growing in faith!! Lizzy and Amy are a hoot together and keep Elysia busy at home. We are over most of the reverse culture shock but still miss our lives and ministry in Europe. We are taking advantage of being stateside for Christmas and will be together with family in Utah and Minnesota. The kids are enjoying discovering Christmas in America! A real cultural eye-opener!!

If you would like to keep up on our lives and ministry we maintain a blog with pictures news and updates, and send regular email updates. If you have not received those, that means we do not have your current email. Take a second and drop us a line with your contact info to our address on the prayer card. We would love to keep in touch.

Merry Christmas to you all! God’s Grace, Mercy, and Peace be with you all through the coming year!

The Larsons
Ethan, Elysia, Gretchen, Peter John, Elizabeth, Amy

Lizzy Directs a Christmas Play

2008-12-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

We were sitting at dinner tonight discussing the Christmas play at the Peter and Gretchen's school. Gretch was disappointed to not be "in the play" but merely in the chorus.

Lizzy thought we could make our own play!

Lizzy: "Daddy will be Joseph, and Gretchen will be Mary!"

Elysia: "...and who will Peter play?"

Lizzy: (not missing a beat) "Bob the Builder!"

Elysia: (trying to hold back) "... and what will I be?"

Lizzy: "You will be a princess... and you will be SOOOOOO Beaut-eeful!"

Elysia: "...and what will you be?"

Lizzy: "A Ballerina!!!" she says as she sits there in her pink leotard.

(but of course!!...she dresses like this EVERY day)

Should be quite a production!

Gingerbread Houses

2008-12-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

We made Gingerbread Houses out of graham crackers and leftover halloween candy plus a few gumdrops and candy canes from the store. The kids had a blast. I made a simple frosting with powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk. Then squeezed it out of a plastic bag with a cake decorating "star" tip. This holds the pieces together. Once the frosting dries and stiffens, the house is pretty sturdy. For a while, though, we had to use toothpicks to hold it up. Cheaper than store-bought kits, and a LOT of fun.

Amy making mischief with Peter John's folded laundry. (above)

Dedicated to God

2008-11-26T19:52:00.001-08:00

After 10 months, we finally had the opportunity to pray for Amy in church. We dedicated her life to God and prayed for God's blessing in her life. Ethan's prayer was beautiful, and such a sweet offering to the Lord.

Amy nuzzles noses with Pastor Bob after our time of prayer dedicating her to the Lord.
Amy's Daddy prayed for her as well as Pastor Bob. The other kids behaved themselves, thank goodness. It was a good time together as a family, and I hope the kids remember it.

Health Update

2008-11-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

November 10 I was able to have the stent put into my left kidney and ureter. It went well, though it took a few days to recover. After two weeks, there was still no change in my pain level in my left back and side. I have continued to have pain despite the testing on my left kidney and ureter. Yesterday morning the urologist/surgeon removed the stent. He told me that because all the testing shows my kidney and ureter are functioning normally and show no disease, there is nothing else he can do. Practically, we have been able to rule out any kidney disease or physical problem to the structure of the kidney and ureter.

Where do we go from here? Well, I have decided to pursue potential problems with my back or hips. I will be looking into chiropractic, physical therapy, and further medical care. I do not know what to do, but I know God knows, so I am looking to Him. I will also be asking the original referring nurse practitioner about any other potential internal conditions that could be causing my pain.

I do not know how long all of this is going to take. I appreciate your continued prayers for our time here and the future of our ministry. Ethan continues to work at the church with teaching and writing. Please pray for good fruit from his work while we are in a time of waiting. God bless you.

Biographical Article

2008-11-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

www.ccboisewomen.org is our church's women's ministry website. They did an article on my (Elysia's) missionary background, if you are interested in reading a little bit more about God's work in my life.

Pumpkin Harvest

2008-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's pumpkin carving time!

Classic Larson squint.

I'm lovin' it!

Learning To Communicate

2008-10-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Children are trained by the patterns they see and live. When our pattern for communicating with our kids is often through arguing back and forth, or through yelling, they will probably learn to communicate this way as they grow up. If a parent is abusive in their language or their physical behavior, the children repeat this pattern as they grow up and relate to others. Change is possible through God, though. We are not stuck in a way of relating. We can change by God's grace. Parents can change how they relate to their kids, and children can change too.

I have been reading a good book about parenting that has some very practical advice on relating to children, especially as they are getting a little bit older. It has helped me to stop and evaluate my own behavior. For example, today my three-year-old was unhappy with the food she was given for lunch. I began to notice what she was saying and doing. She started to complain, which turned into demanding something else, then repeating herself. Each time I calmly told her "no," I corrected her attitude and explained that this is what is for lunch. This diffused the situation. She never finished her lunch, and her attitude began to turn into some other problems for which she was disciplined for. Eventually, she was just put down for a nap early as it was evident that she was very tired. God gave me grace not to become frustrated or give in, but to be controlled by the Holy Spirit in my attitude and actions. As I went through this experience, I realized how when I was a younger parent, I would either try to soften my instructions or would sometimes give in to their demands. This led to a real pattern of whining and arguing in my kids. My husband noticed this early on, and helped me to see that I needed to not react to their whining because it only encouraged more whining. I was such a softy! I have learned to correct them, teach them the respectful way to ask for things, and be strong in following through with my original instructions or answers. Ethan has been a great help in this. This book has some great advice on learning to communicate effectively with your kids without anger or other negative patterns. Pick it up and read it if you need help in your parenting! Even if you are not an "angry" parent...I rarely become angry, but I do realize my weaknesses in communication. This book has helped. The website for the authors is: www.biblicalparenting.org

Here are two other books that I have really loved and appreciated in my parenting journey:

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, go to www.shepherdpress.com for more information. This book has been a foundational book in learning the biblical view of raising children.

Focus on The Family Complete Guide to Baby & Child Care by Dobson, go to www.family.org for more information. A good guide to medical and psychological issues.

Lefty?

2008-10-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Amy takes after her father in many respects, especially her facial features. Lately, we have noticed a tendency to use her left hand for eating and other things. Maybe she will follow the Larson family lefties.

Procedure

2008-10-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

My stent procedure has been scheduled for November 10th. Please pray for that. Thanks.

--Elysia

Not much News

2008-10-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

So far we are still waiting for answers to my pain. The doctors want to see if surgery is necessary by doing a temporary procedure. But, unfortunately, that has not been scheduled yet because of the waiting period for financial assistance at the hospital. I am still having pain, and the past couple of weeks it has been pretty bad.

Ethan's Sunday at the Ukrainian church was a great experience--it was very cultural in that you never know what to expect when in another culture's church service. He preached along with three other guys. Some Ukrainian churches have three or four elders or pastors get up and share the Word every week instead of the typical sermon by one pastor in American churches. He met some great people, and learned more about Christians from Ukraine. There were no "takers" on his request for a Ukrainian language tutor, so that is on hold as well until we can find someone. There is another big Ukrainian church in town that meets at an A of G church, so maybe there are some resources there. We will see what happens.

In the mean time, we are living life here. Ethan has opportunities to serve at the church by helping with missions and through teaching in the School of Ministry, and in the college-age fellowship. We are also mentoring some students in Ethan's class at the SOM. We are really being blessed by the abundance of relationships here. We are getting to know some wonderful people better, and are really enjoying the blessings and benefits of the Body of Christ. I had the privilege of attending a church women's retreat last weekend, and am enjoying some awesome times of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with others. God always works things for good for His kids.

Peter's Tooth

2008-09-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Peter John! You lost your first tooth! Peter pulled it out himself. What a kid!

Providence Again

2008-09-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Often around town we will hear people speaking Russian and other Slavic languages. We like to strike up a conversation, telling them about our experience in Ukraine. None have led to any friendships, but we did contact a local piano teacher who we found on the internet. He emigrated from Ukraine and is a believer. We asked him if he knew of anyone who could tutor us in the Ukrainian language. This teacher put us in touch with a pastor who leads a Ukrainian language congregation in Boise. Ethan contacted this pastor last week, and after a good conversation, he invited Ethan to come and share the Gospel at his church! He also believes there might be someone in his church who could help us out with language tutoring. We are excited about both these opportunities.

Ethan will be speaking at the Ukrainian church in town this Sunday, so be praying about that! He will teach in English with Ukrainian translation, an arrangement that we have grown used to in Eastern Europe.

Larson Prayer Update September 2008

2008-09-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Larson Prayer Update
September 2008
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" Matt.28:19a

Dear Friends and Family:

Is the Lord stirring in your heart to go to the nations? There are many, many people around the world who still have not heard about the awesome salvation that our God gives. One day we will see God as we worship before His throne. We will cry out to God together with people of every nation. "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" Rev. 7:9-10

Thank you for praying for us! It remains our desire to go back to Ukraine to make disciples for Jesus. Currently we are in the States working towards that goal. We are staying in Boise, Idaho where Elysia continues to undergo testing and doctors' visits to confirm a diagnosis for her kidney pain. She will have a temporary stent placed in a couple of weeks. Please pray for a diagnosis and for healing. God has provided very excellent health care for us through a local medical charity. We thank God for that.

While we are here, we are taking advantage of the opportunity for our kids to get a good education as we wait. The kids started school Aug. 25 at a small Christian school in our church where Gretchen is in 2nd grade and Peter John is in kindergarten.

Lizzy just turned three and Amy is 8 months now. They will stay home with Mommy and continue to be loved and trained up in the Lord.

Ethan was given the opportunity to teach in our church's School of Ministry this fall. He is teaching the Book of Genesis to twenty five students who have committed to a year of study for Christian ministry. Calvary Chapel Boise has grown a lot since we left 4 1/2 years ago to become missionaries. They have many ministries and people involved in the church. It is exciting to see God working in and through these things.

We stayed at a missionary house this summer provided by a woman in our church, but we needed to move out at the end of August. God provided us a house to rent just five minutes from the church and school, and we moved in September 1st. Before we moved in, we had very few things for our house. We sent out an email asking for any donations of used furniture and supplies. We had an overwhelming response and our house is full now with excellent furniture for our needs. Our God provides! Thank you to all of you who gave so generously here in the Boise area. May God bless you richly.
The house before:

The house after all the donations were given:
Praise the Lord!

We have a desire to prepare for Ukraine by beginning to study the Ukrainian language. There are several Ukrainian immigrants in the Boise area. Please pray that we will find a Ukrainian language tutor to help us begin to learn this language. We do not want to waste any time.

Thank you for all you do through your thoughts and prayers and support. We continue to receive financial support through our church, so please refer to our information below if you are interested in continuing to support us. We continue to update our blog periodically if you want to keep in touch. God bless you.

Love, The Larson Family

Ukrainian Parenting Tip

2008-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

...Here is a parenting tip from the ever-practical Ukrainian Mamas...Start 'em on the potty early. It saves the stink in the diapers and helps them avoid being scared of going on the toilet when they are two years old and ready to be out of diapers (a mistake I made with another one of our children). In Ukraine they put them on the potty as soon as they are sitting up on their own (6 or 7 months old). I cannot boast in anything related to parenting, but some things sure are practical. And being a practical kind of gal, this sure has helped us avoid stinky blow-outs. We started doing this with our third child at age 10 months and now we are doing it with our little one who is 8 months. So, if you are curious how it works, when the baby starts to grunt, just pull off their pants and diapers and hold them up on the toilet. It is clean and fun for the baby, too. Our baby sure feels proud when she is done, especially when we praise her and give her lots of smiles.

Minnesota Trip

2008-09-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

Anna & Erik married on August 16, 2008! My little sis is married now!

Peter, Lizzy, my sister Melissa, Gretchen, and my nephew Hans.

Erik's brother, Erik's Mom, Erik, Anna, Mary Anne and Mel Frank (my parents).
Ethan and Gretchen.
Our friend Amanda, our little man Peter John, and Ethan.
Gettin' down with Jonie and friends.
Dad and Anna.

Sorry I am writing all these posts at once! It's Friday night, the kids are sleeping in the living room for a "Slumber Party" and Ethan is at a retreat for our church's School of Ministry. He will be teaching a class there this fall, so it will be great for him because he can continue to teach God's word even on this unplanned furlough. Anyway, the quiet evening is a great opportunity for me to get caught up on all our news and stuff.

The trip to Minnesota was great. My sister, Anna, was beautiful, of course, and the bridegroom very happy. Anna had several friends come from Idaho and Washington state. She has some very faithful friends. My whole family (the Frank Family) was able to be together, and Erik's family and friends came from afar to attend the event. We also had a great time staying with Ethan's parents in Fergus Falls.

Lizzy caught a sunny! Woo hoo! Way to go, Lizzy!

Pizza Compassion by Elysia

2008-09-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

I got a Little Caesar's Pizza last week for $5! Hot N Ready! It was great. On the side of the box it said,

Call us! We care!

I also heard on a local Christian radio station last week "We are here for you." I really appreciate how others focused these companies are, but how can a pizza company really "care" for me, and how can a radio station really "be there" for me?

These promises are given to us from all sectors of life: companies, schools, religions, neighborhood organizations. And it made me really think about how we present the Gospel to people. Are we trying to win people by promises of friendship, self-help, a better life, or a great atmosphere in church? These may be excellent results of a great community that the Church can provide people, and truly God CAN help us in our lives. But what is the point of the Gospel? The Gospel is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 The Gospel is the Good News that Jesus can save us from our sins. Jesus is our Savior. He is our end (our purpose, our goal, our focus) in life. All other benefits that He provides us are awesome and truly appreciated, but they are not the main point. Salvation and reconciliation to God is the point.

Providence

2008-09-12T20:01:00.001-07:00

We moved into a rental house here in Boise on Sept. 1st. The day we moved in we pretty much had nothing for the house, but a lot of people had promised to give us some things.

As of yesterday, our house is nearly furnished. Many loving Christians here in Boise donated used furniture and supplies for the house. We just want to say THANK YOU to our loving God for providing so well for us. We also want to thank all the people who gave to us. We are so blessed.

A Reason To Celebrate 9/11

2008-09-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today is Elizabeth's birthday! She turns 3 years old, and we are so excited for our adorable little Lizzy.

News - Answers to Prayer

2008-08-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we left Boise to drive for two days to Minnesota for my sister Anna's wedding. Saturday is the wedding here in Fergus Falls. There are a lot of family and friends here so the noise level has gone up at my parents' house. Hopefully the old ladies they take care of in another part of their house will be able to tolerate all the activity! We are staying with Ethan's parents and really enjoying being together.

Many people have been wondering how things are going. Well, here are the answers to prayer we have been seeking:

1. We found a house to rent from the Leavitts. It is close to the church and at a price we think we can afford.
2. It looks like the kids will be able to go to the Calvary Chapel School at our church. It is going to be such a blessing for Peter and Gretchen to go to school. School starts August 25th.
3. We bought a used minivan from a couple in our church. It was at a price we could afford and is in good condition.
4. The church would like to see our financial support continue while we are in the states, both from the church and through individual donations. We will be working towards returning to Ukraine as soon as we can get these health problems resolved, so this furlough will be a time of preparing for that.
5. I had a CT scan two weeks ago. The results of that showed "medium to high level narrowing of the UPJ junction" on both sides. This means that the point where the kidney and ureter meets in both kidneys is constricted causing pressure and pain. I will have an appointment Sept. 8 with the urologist to discuss a diagnosis and treatment for this. The interesting thing about this test result is that it is exactly what the first urologist I saw in Hungary said I had. The second doctor, the surgeon, disagreed. Now the tests here in the US are saying the same thing as the first doctor in Hungary said. This is great news for us, because we are finally beginning to get some confirmations and answers. By the way, Genesis World Missions/Garden City Community Clinic (the charity that is helping me with my health care) made all these tests and appointments happen for me. I couldn't be more grateful.
6. Our drive out to Minnesota went really well with the kids. Praise the Lord.

Prayer Requests:
1. We will need Furniture, Kitchen supplies, and Linens for the house.
2. Work for Ethan.
3. Provision for Elysia's medical treatment.
4. Our drive back to Boise on Monday and Tuesday next week. Pray the kids will do okay!

May God's Kingdom come and His will be done.

Living For the Unseen by Elysia

2008-08-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

What gives a missionary the strength to do what she does? Or what about a Christian, for that matter? What gives him the vision to persevere through many trials and the grievous nature of this fallen world? We cannot persevere because we are strong. The fact is that many Christians are NOT strong. We are weak. We cannot do what we do as missionaries, leaving the comforts of home, and sacrificing a lot, just because we have zeal. The zeal probably will not be able to get us through the times of illness, persecution, and loneliness. We put our hope in God, who is invisible, yet the worlds were made by Him. We put our hope in a God who has cancelled the power of sin and of death, and given us resurrection power and a life to come in heaven forever. We are living for the unseen. 2 Cor. 4:16-18, 5:1,7 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens....For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Practically every part of our faith is fueled by the promises of God and the evidence of things that are invisible. Consider this list:

eternal life,

forgiveness of sins,

heaven,

God,

the second coming of Christ,

justification,

sanctification,

glorification,

prayer,

witnessing to someone who appears to show no interest,

walking in the Spirit.

Is there one single thing on this list that is in any way visible with human eyes?

These things are only visible unless God chooses to reveal these things to us, which He has done in various ways in times past and present. Yet though we do not see, we live because God is alive and He lives in us. He is real and has given us a living hope through Jesus Christ. Jesus said to his disciple Thomas after He had risen from the dead, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29 When I read this story about Jesus and Thomas, I am touched by Jesus' compassion for the disciples when He saw their unbelief. He gave them physical evidence of His life by encouraging them to touch Him and put their hands in His side and in the nail holes on His hands. He doesn't let them off the hook, though. "...He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen." Mark 16:14 Jesus had a deep heart of compassion to see His disciples walking in faith, not in doubting or unbelief.

Truly, these disciples took what they saw and brought the message to the world, turning the world upside down with their message of hope through Jesus Christ. John bore witness to Jesus Christ when he shared Jesus' message with the world around him. John said, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." I John 1:1-4

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Mothers, do not give up because you do not see evidence for your labor (I am speaking to myself here). "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Gal. 6:9 Missionary! Do not be tempted to look at your present difficulties and perceived lack, because God has promised that "You have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise..." Heb. 10:34-36 We must look at something greater than what is available in this world. I am so tempted every time I come back here to America by the practical desire for an American house. I know it is petty and fleshly, but I sort of long for a house and a "normal" life. I am tempted to look up the real estate section in the newspapers or on the internet. Yet, God has shown me His PROMISES over and over again to address this temptation. I meditate on His promises when these temptations arise. Promises like Psalm 17:13-14, Psalm 37, Psalm 73, Luke 18:29-30, and Matthew 6:19-21 that tells us to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." We are pilgrims in this world, and God has given us a heavenly reward. We have a High Priest who has gone through everything we go through, and suffered on our behalf. He has promised us with compassion in His heart, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys, For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34

Keep your eyes on Jesus, keep your eyes on heaven, keep your eyes on things above, not on earthly things. Live for the Unseen. "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." I Tim. 1:17

Pix of the Kids

2008-08-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Peter John, climbing a rock at Banks Beach on the way back from Garden Valley one Sunday.

The kids have been enjoying lots of bike rides with Daddy. It looks like Amy is trying to eat the strap. She has been TEETHING! No teeth yet, but she sure is fussy.

New haircut for pretty Gretchen.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Here is the family celebrating at Eagle Island State Park outside of Boise. We were some of the only people speaking English at the park around us. We heard people speaking Spanish, Russian, and another Slavic language (sounded like Serbian or Croatian). It felt like we were in Europe again!

Happy Birthday, Blond Kid!

2008-07-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today is Ethan's 41st B-day! I just want to celebrate a man who has made an amazing difference in my life and in the lives of people around him. God bless him today and throughout the years to come.

"Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!" Psalm 31:19

Abraham Waited

2008-07-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Our current situation has brought us to a place of total dependence upon God. We should always be in this position of total dependence, right? Still uncertain of the reason for my kidney pain, we have decided to stay here in Boise for some time (perhaps 6 months or more) to explore the problem and prepare for future ministry in Ukraine. (This is all Lord willing, of course). While we wait, we will need to rent an apartment, arrange for a car to drive, get the kids into a school, buy furniture, etc. etc. I am fully convinced that as we wait on the Lord in faith, He will provide all that is needed for this time.

In the mean time, it has been a blessing to renew relationships with people here, as well as meet new friends. God has also brought opportunities for Ethan to minister as an "On Call" pastor at the church (Calvary Chapel Boise). This is a great opportunity to simply minister to the needs of people who need counsel or a visitor in the hospital. Last week Ethan spoke at a home fellowship that we have been attending at Kelly Link's house. Another opportunity to share will come tomorrow in Garden Valley at the church there.

Interestingly, we have run into many Ukrainians in Boise already. Just today, I was at a discount clothing store doing some shopping with birthday money I received when I met a Ukrainian lady and her two young boys. It was fun to speak to her in Russian. She goes to a Russian-speaking church here in Boise. I also overheard another lady speaking Russian to her four kids in the store. Ethan has run into two or three other people speaking Russian. Boise is full of "transplants" from other places, and fewer natives. I got in touch with a Ukrainian man who teaches piano lessons here in Boise. He is a Christian, and has agreed to help us find a tutor in the Ukrainian language. He says there are nine Russian-speaking pentecostal churches, and probably Russian Baptist churches, too. Possibly Russian Orthodox too. There is also one Ukrainian speaking church in town. So, this man will contact them in hopes of finding someone who could tutor us in the language. God has not closed the door yet on Ukraine, so we are moving forward in preparation, though we are uncertain of what is ahead.

God is faithful and good. We are so needy, but He freely gives us His grace.

Mom's Doing Great

2008-07-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

My Mom's surgery went amazingly well. They were able to do it all by robotics instead of open heart surgery. Praise the Lord. She is up and walking and will be able to return home soon. Thanks for praying!

Prayer Request

2008-07-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mary Anne and newborn Amy

I would like to ask for prayer for my mom, Mary Anne. She will be having heart surgery tomorrow. She has always been an amazing caregiver. May the greatest CareGiver of all give her health and strength. Thank you for praying!

Hot Topics

2008-07-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Since we are back in the States, it is interesting to observe what people are talking about here in the U.S.A. Here are the Top Five Topics of Conversation I have heard:

1. Gas Prices

2. The Economy - Flat, Depressed - Housing Market, Job Market in recession

3. Health issues

4. Family

5. "I'm so busy!"

Doctor Appointment

2008-07-03T14:55:00.001-07:00

Many of you have been asking about my doctor appointment. I went to a urology clinic this morning. The man I saw ruled out these things: kidney disease, cancer, lupus, and infection. That is good news. SOOO, the big things are not a concern. That gets us back to the pain, which is still in question. There was nothing obvious that stood out based on my medical tests that I had in Hungary.

Where do we go from here? They will still be checking to see if the ureters are constricted somehow. I will be on a medication for three weeks which will relax and open up the ureters, and we will see if the pain subsides. If there is no change in the pain, however, they will need to do some other tests and look at some other things. So, we are still waiting. On a side note, the man I saw is a Christian, and he is helping us out through a Christian medical clinic that helps missionaries and/or people without insurance. God is providing so far.

Back in the USA

2008-07-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

Here I (Elysia) am writing from Boise, Idaho. God has been so good to us, and we are settling in. We plan to be here for the summer. My kidney diagnosis will determine beyond that. I have an appointment at a urology clinic tomorrow. We are eager to hear what they say. For now, I am doing okay, but I still have constant pain.

We made it back to the states on June 10th, just in time for Dad's retirement dinner. Ethan's dad has been a pastor for over 40 years, and his denomination did a special banquet in his honor. It was a great event with all of Ethan's siblings able to make it, even his brother who lives in Peru. I was so blessed by how God was glorified during the event.

We had a great 10 days in Minnesota visiting family. The kids got some fishing in with Grandpa Larson. Look at these Northern pikes Peter John and Gretchen caught one day on Swan Lake! Peter caught three, and Gretchen caught one. Gretchen refused to get too close to the fish for the picture because they were "Gross!" Peter didn't seem to mind.

We made it to a great American parade with my dad and some other family members for the Fergus Falls Summerfest. The parade was originally going to be on Saturday, but it was postponed due to a TORNADO! It wasn't too serious, but there were several trees down and very high winds. The parade took place Sunday instead. Fergus Falls parades always make me smile. People still stand and salute the flag when it passes. How refreshing. Gotta have those fire engines, too! I love midwestern values!

We got to meet two new members of the family while we were in Minnesota. My sister, Sarah had a new baby just before we arrived. His name is Max. Our other new family member is a new brother-in-law. My sister, Anna is getting married to a fine young man named Erik Everett. Here are the happy couple who will be wed August 16th:

We have been really blessed by the generosity of many people here in Boise. We were given a house and a car to borrow for these two months for free. Many people also gave us clothing, toys, and crafts for our kids. It was like Christmas when we arrived. More importantly, we are very blessed by the renewal of our relationships with the folks here in Boise. I hope that we will be able to be a blessing to this community as well. Though it is only temporary, I hope to bloom where we are planted. We will be attending our friend, Kelly's home fellowship, and getting as much of church in as we can. Hopefully, we can encourage people to pursue Jesus Christ, and to know Him and His love while we are here. I need to remind myself, too, to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the reason for our lives.

June 2008 Prayer Update

2008-06-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

Larson News June 4, 2008

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called
Faithful and True...
Revelation 19:11

God’s will for our lives can be trusted. “My times are in Your hand.” Ps. 31:15 We truly see God’s sovereign hand guiding us these last few months in preparation for our move. Thank you for those who have prayed for us during this time.

We have had a number of tests in the past months but we are still uncertain of what is going on with Elysia’s health. Everyone agrees that something is wrong, and so far the obvious things like kidney stones or constrictions have been eliminated, but we have still not found a definitive cause.

Obviously we cannot go to Ukraine with unresolved unknown medical problems. We had hoped to get the problem resolved in Hungary but we have reached the limit of what we can do here. So our plan is to go to America for a furlough to get further information on her health and hopefully, a diagnosis.

We will be flying to Minnesota June 10th for my Father’s retirement banquet. Then about a week after that we plan to drive out to Boise and see if we can get some answers from some doctors there.

We have no idea how long this process might take or what it will reveal. We never see the future but the Lord always does. He has a plan and a purpose in all of this. If there is one thing the Lord has taught us in the past 5 years it is that though His plans are unseen by us, they are perfect, and He can be trusted. “Our times are in Your hand” has become a common and confident prayer of our lives and the expectation of our hearts. God’s plan is at work; we just pray for faith to follow where He leads.

One of the hymns we sing with our kids reminds us of His trustworthiness:

All the way my Savior leads me—what have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy who through life has been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know whate‘er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know whate‘er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

Our hearts’ desire is to serve Him in Ukraine, and we pray that we can get there quickly. But our greatest desire is to glorify Him with our lives and He knows best how to do that. So, His will be done—in all things He is Faithful and True.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for Elysia’s medical needs.
Please pray for our last week in Hungary while we pack up and prepare to leave.
Please pray for our time in Boise. We will have many needs, travel expenses, and expenses while in the States. But God knows these beforehand and we trust will supply them.
For the summer, we will be able to stay at a house owned by a lady in our church. Thank you, Lord!
We will need a reliable van that we can rent or borrow.
Please pray also for our children for grace and comfort and safety as we are traveling, living in new places and temporary situations.
Pray for God’s timing and for an opportunity to fulfill the calling to preach and teach God’s word.

Grace and Peace,
Ethan Larson and family

Strength in Time of Need

2008-04-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you for praying. We are completing the things we need to finish before Ukraine by working at it each day. God is giving us strength.

Today Ethan dropped off the car to get something repaired in a town 15 minutes away, then he rode his bike back. After that repair is made, he will drive the car to Budapest sometime in the next week to get the major repairs done. Today, I also spent the morning in Szekesfehervar (how about that name for a city!) to see the urologist. He ordered the next two tests. Both are pretty major tests, so they must be scheduled in advance. One will be done May 13th and the other on June 3rd. Last week we were able to complete Amy's registration for Hungary, and yesterday we rented a van to go to Budapest in order to apply for our kids' passport renewals. Since G & PJ's passports expire this year, we need these renewals done in order to apply for our Ukrainian visas. Please pray for the birth certificates to get here from the states in a timely manner, so that their applications for passports may be complete.

God is answering our prayers and giving us strength. He is also speaking such amazing comfort and hope into our hearts through His precious, life-giving Word. I thank God for the Holy Spirit. He is filling us up to overflowing. A scripture verse has been rolling around in my head and heart a lot lately. A friend gave me this verse during a time of prayer. Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I have also been praying for the Holy Spirit to fill me and singing much lately as an antidote to anxiety. Ephesians 5:18-21 says: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." God is good.

Prayer Requests

2008-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
April 23, 2008
Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Since writing you last we have had some challenges with Elysia’s health, so we are writing to ask that you continue to pray for us. She has been having pain in both kidneys for about a month now. After several tests, the urologist Elysia saw made a diagnosis and referred us to a surgeon for laporoscopic surgery on both ureters. The surgeon is considered to be one of the best in the country for this type of surgery. However, yesterday after meeting with the surgeon, he told us that Elysia was misdiagnosed and does not need this surgery. He would like to see some further tests ordered. One is a kidney scan that is an isotope x-ray. If that is inconclusive, he would like to see an angiogram done to test her blood vessels. She was referred back to the original urologist, so that he may order the tests. Elysia is scheduled to see the urologist in Szekesfehervar on Tuesday next week.

Each of these doctor visits are time consuming and involve a lot of driving. We have to admit, the emotional side of it is difficult, too, since we keep getting different reports, and facing these health problems is a challenge to our faith. Praise God, He has promised to be with us through it all, and He has promised to carry us.

We are asking God for the knowledge to diagnose these problems and full healing to His glory. We are asking for greater trust in God, a peace that passes understanding, and faith to follow His direction for our lives. We pray that God would use these problems to increase our love and compassion for others and our faith and love of God.

We would continue to ask for your prayers as we prepare to move to Ternopil, Ukraine in June. We are feeling swamped right now. Would you pray with us as we complete the tasks needed in order to move? Here are some specific concerns we have:

Ethan needs to find a chunk of time (4-5 days) where he may drive to Ternopil and look at houses/apartments. Please pray for a good time to do this. The health issues with Elysia are inconclusive and all the doctor visits and tests have made it difficult to find a time to go. Please pray for a good living situation for us in Ternopil.
That we would find a van/truck to rent in order to move our boxes between countries.
We are having some car problems. For all the necessary repairs to be made. We also need to pray that we would get the info we need in order to register our car in Ukraine.
Passport renewals for Gretchen and Peter John. Ukrainian visas for Ethan, Gretchen, Peter John, and Amy (Elysia’s and Lizzy’s are good for another 2 years). Also, Amy’s Hungarian residence permit must be completed required for our stay here.
U.S. Taxes. Strength and time for Elysia to gather all the necessary papers and numbers so that they may be completed by the June 15 due date.
Financial provision.
The transitions that our kids and we are going through. May we have wisdom and grace in dealing with our children and their needs.
Sorting, giving away things, and packing up in order to move.
Ethan’s class. Graduation is May 13.
Elysia’s tests and grace for Amy through all of this while Elysia is breastfeeding her.
Marriage and parenting.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Thank you for praying.
Grace and peace,
Ethan, Elysia, Gretchen, Peter John, Elizabeth, and Amy Larson

April Newsletter

2008-04-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

2 Peter 4:7-8 "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'"

Dear Family and Friends:

We know through experience and through God's word that prayer is absolutely essential in our lives and ministry to the world. God has given us the great privilege to come before His throne of grace to commune with Him and lay everything of concern before Him. He is so faithful to hear us and answer us, and give us help and grace. He gave His Son for the world, and He freely gives to us daily. Will we seek God today? Will we lay everything at His feet and worship Him today? The end of all things is at hand. Let us seek the Lord.

Ukraine Update

Many of you heard in our last update about our desire to return to Ukraine to minister to the people there. Ethan's trip to Ukraine last month went very well. It was an eventful week packed with opportunities to visit friends and to minister in churches as well.

The pastor's meeting in Kyiv was an awesome time to meet with the men who are in leadership in churches throughout Ukraine. Praise the Lord, Ethan was able to talk with George Markey, Jr. who is heading up a new ministry in Ternopil, Ukraine, the first Calvary Chapel church started in western Ukraine.

We have it on our hearts to move to a city for one to two years in order to enter the country and become acclimated to the culture and language of this part of the world. During this time of study and adjustment, we would seek God's guidance for our future ministry in Ukraine. After talking with George, it looks like we will be able to go to Ternopil for this purpose.

Ternopil is located directly in the center of the western half of the country. It is easily accessible to all the main cities in the west and is a major railroad junction. We would have the blessing of being able to fellowship at their church (they have a Ukrainian service and an English service) as well as to know some other missionaries in that city while we are studying the Ukrainian language.

Bible College News

God is continuing to do great things in and through the students and staff of the Bible College here in Hungary. The classes are for the students to get to know God more through in-depth study of His word. Ethan's class on Apologetics continues to go well. The curriculum at CCBCE includes outreach trips. Hungary is very central to the rest of Europe, so opportunities to reach out to others abound in this place. The students are currently on short-term mission trips to several countries around the world for ten days.

One of the student teams stayed right here in Vajta to spread the Gospel to the people in the village. It has been a beautiful opportunity to show love through playing with kids, reaching out to the local Catholic church, working in the gardens of some elderly people, reaching out to the local preschool, and many other events meant to share God's love to the people here. Two weeks ago some of the staff and students put on an amazing event for kids here in Vajta. We had a great time of playing games, singing songs, joining in a people train, and hearing God's word through Gospel skits and stories. Many kids and their mothers came. You can read more about it on our blog.

Family Happenings

Gretchen turned seven this week! Her birthday always reminds me of moving to Europe for the first time. Two days after we moved to Ukraine Gretchen turned three years old. She is doing well and learning a lot in school. Peter John recently learned how to ride a bike and has been hard to stop ever since. Elysia has been teaching him to read at home. It is exciting to see his development. Lizzy is adorable and having a lot of fun being two years old. It is hard to believe how tall she is getting. Amy is three months old now. She is doing great now since she had pneumonia in February. Elysia is having some kidney problems again, so please pray for healing and for the doctors as they are testing her. The other kids are healthy (other than colds). Please pray for our emotional well-being as we go through the stress of moving over these next two months. We will need to find a place in Ternopil to live. Once we find a place, we can begin to move our things, and then our final move is planned for June.

Prayer Requests

Student outreach trips - for the Gospel to be spread and received with joy
Our move to Ternopil, Ukraine in June 2008
An apartment or house to rent or buy
Schools for our kids in Ternopil
A language teacher or school for studying Ukrainian
A nanny or regular babysitter for Elysia to be able to study the language
Financial provision
Health and Safety
A close walk with God and continual trust in Him
For our adjustment to the culture, new relationships, language, & home
For God's word to be spread and revival throughout the world

Thank you for your continual prayers and support of us. We appreciate you all so much. We continue to post regular updates on our website: larsonsinhungary.blogspot.com We have also begun a new website: hope4ukraine.blogspot.com to chronicle our plans and events related to our lives in Ukraine.

Grace and peace,
Ethan and Elysia Larson and kids, Gretchen, Peter John, Elizabeth, and Amy

Our Story

2008-03-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

By God's grace, he called us to teach God's word and work in ministry. He has given us many opportunities over the years to serve Him. In April 2004, our family moved to Priluki, Ukraine to help a church and their missionaries establish a Bible college for the believers in the churches in Ukraine. Before Ukraine, Ethan had been working as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Boise for 7 years. Elysia had worked as a missionary teacher at ICS in Bangkok, Thailand for 2 years prior to our joyous wedding in 1999.

After two years of studying the Russian language in Priluki and getting settled into life in Ukraine (it was a tough beginning because of the many trials we experienced those two years), the plan for the Bible college changed. The missionaries at the church we were working at decided to return to America and the missionary team disbanded. God opened the door for us to move to Vajta, Hungary and work at the Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe these past two years. It has been a wonderful, growing experience to serve here at the Bible College. The students here come from many countries, and we have experienced great fellowship in Jesus' name.

Our passion and burden for the people of Ukraine has not left even though we moved from Ukraine in 2006. In fact, our desire to minister in Ukraine has grown stronger since that time. God gave us so many promises the first time we went out, and we desire to see God's Kingdom come to these places where there is little or no Christian witness. As we have been praying during these past several months, the burden for Ukraine has grown and grown. As we have been waiting on the Lord and trusting in Him, He has begun to open doors for us. He has given us some great conversations with other people who are currently ministering in Ukraine or who have done so in the past. Our next stop as you can see from the prayer requests on the left is to move to Ternopil. We will be living there for the next year or two to study the Ukrainian language. Our hope is that a door will open up to begin a new work somewhere in western Ukraine. To read more about this opportunity, click here to go to our "Larsons in Hungary" blog. This will tell you more about how we came to this decision. It has been a great journey, and we have a great God who is ever faithful.