Sweden - June 24, 2013

This past week was Midsummer's which was a bit of a fluke for us this year since the ward activity fell through and my companion and I weren't able to attend the community event since we had a lesson with an investigator.  I think President Newell described the experience perfectly... it was like going to Times Square for New Year's and finding only the ball there and nothing else.  It was weird...but next year I'm going all out!  Plus it will only be a couple of weeks before I go home. 

On that note, I've officially been on my mission for over 5 months now....

A little about my companion: Syster Sarah Gambles is from Soda Springs, Idaho and she's 23.  She was a journalism major at BYU and she graduated April of last year. 

We have a couple of investigators that we're working with: 

Cherry - We've been working with him quite a bit and he's been able to come to a few ward activities (like soccer).  We've been through most of the three main lessons with him and are starting with the commandments.  This week we really hope that he will be able to come to church on Sunday and decide on a baptismal date.  He's extremely positive!

Eric - We hope to get a baptismal date with him this week as well.  He already agreed that as he comes to know that the church is true for himself that he will get baptized, so we're praying that he'll recognize when he receives his answer.  He definitely likes the idea that we need to all learn for ourselves.

Ann-Britt - She's feeling more positive again this week so we were able to set up a lesson with her this upcoming Thursday.  We hope she'll recommit to a baptismal date.

Ulrika - She continues to come to church to support her boyfriend who was recently baptized.  She has come a long way.  She's definitely still progressing, but she wants more time to process things.  We still teach her once or twice a week. 

This is the week we hope for baptismal dates!  Otherwise, we've been spending our time contacting old investigators and and inactives in our area with the hope that we can find more people willing to learn more.  We have a couple of potential and new investigators that we hope to be able to consider as progressing soon, but it is of course not in our hands.

D&C 76:22-24 - Simply that "He lives."  I know this to be true.

I hope you all have a good week!

-Syster Ryan

Örebro! - June 17, 2013

Hey Everyone!

So I know some of you know already, but I was transferred last week to Örebro and I'll be finishing the training of a Syster Gambles while I'm here.  Örebro is super pretty and it has a wonderful ward.  I moved up here last Wednesday.

The first thing that you'll probably find interesting is that I've been talking with the Lohman family here in Örebro.  (I actually met their son at the MTC while he was preparing to go to Greece though I don't think I ever told you about that, haha--thank you limited time on MTC computers).  But while we were there for dinner yesterday they shared the story of a near 7 week vacation that they were able to have in the United States in the early 2000s.  Part of that time they came to Fresno, because apparently they know Kyle Landis!  Small world.  So they did a session (or baptisms) with him and his family in the Fresno Temple and I think in the Oakland temple as well.  But yep, they know Kyle.  They were actually wondering if I knew what he was up to so if you have any updates in that regard I can pass on the news. 

Otherwise life keeps moving forward.

We've been studying out of Chapter 4 this week for the 12 week training program and one thing that really stuck out was a quote by President Hinckley on p. 97 and how the biggest test of whether something is of the Spirit is whether or not it invites us to do good (in reference to Moroni 7).   Sometimes I think that as members we really get to worrying too much about the little details, for we aren't going to be led in all things.  But if thought invites us to do something good, why shouldn't we do it?  We should be trying to do good always.

Picture time!

Here's one with my nametag, because I don't know if y'all ever can ever get a good look at it in my other pictures (and it's with my journal, but with an annoying flash reflection...but whatever).

Picture of the cake(s) we made for the ward activity

Picture of a drawing I made with some of the young adults in our ward... guess which parts I drew haha.  And sorry about the flash.

Kebab pizza! (with kebab and ham)  With fries and sauce and complete with an Exotic flavored Fanta.  All things that you cannot find in the US, I might add and it was delicious!  And Jared you would approve...no vegetables involved whatsoever.

Love,

Allie

A weekend in Stockholm? Sweet!! - June 10, 2013

It's been an extremely busy week.  A little short on the actual lesson side of things (we may or may not have been only able to have 2 official lessons within our area this past week...difficult), but it's been full of other great activities. 

Last Thursday was Sweden's National Day.  It's funny, because it's only been an official government holiday for about two years (meaning before that they didn't get off work/school to celebrate)... anyway we had a ward activity last week which was a lot of fun.  Each family brought their own meat to BBQ and then we had all brought cakes that everyone was free to try out.  Syster Land and I made one of those Better Than Whatever Cakes (will two mini ones actually... long story) and it was a real hit.  Definitely very American (which is what we were definitely going for) and they loved it!  We had a bit of a competition going with the a member named Samuel about who's cake would be finished first.  Ironically neither one was completely eaten, but we both had two pieces left in the end.  We also played soccer with the ward (totally in our skirts and all) and my team totally won.  Just saying.

On Friday we traveled across the country to Stockholm.  It was a lot of fun since we had 10 missionaries on our tåg.  Syster Land and I ended up being one of the only companionships that actually stayed at a hotel. With the senior couples.  Yep, we're cool =)

Saturday morning we had a mission conference with all of the missionaries in the Sweden mission.  It was the first time there has ever been that large of a gathering of missionaries in Sweden (we have I think 130 missionaries now in the mission, not counting the Senior Couples).   Elder M. Russell Ballard, Bishop Gerald Causse, President Jose A. Teixeria (Area President of Europe) and President Newell spoke to us.  Can I just say that I love Elder Ballard?  It's always cool seeing general authorities in a more relaxed setting, because we actually get to see their more human side.   And Elder Ballard--he's so funny!  He was cracking jokes left and right and yet he most definitely knew when to get down and do whatever possible to draw in the Spirit.  And before you ask... yep, I got to shake every single one of their hands! 

Anyway the conference was amazing.  After the conference everyone in the mission got to go on exchanges and we were sent out into the Stockholm area to go contact.  I was assigned to be with a Syster Taylor from Arizona (she's one of the new sisters and she's awesome) and we got to go to Kungsträdgården which is central downtown Stockholm.  The thing with Saturday, it was the Princess of Sweden's wedding day so Stockholm was packed with people.  Now just think about that...the one day that every single missionary in the country of Sweden is Stockholm is the one day that we have the most tourists in the area... how cool is that?  We were able to do some great contacting.  (Over 18 legit conversations, which is huge honestly.  I have a hard time getting over 5 or 6 a day most often)

That night all of the missionaries were invited to attend a YSA fireside with Elder Ballard and it was pretty awesome as well.  He basically told everyone get married, make it a priority, and realize that the future of the church lies on our shoulders.  We're the ones that decide how the church will look in 20 years from now.  We can't forget our own responsibility.

Mission Home at 10:00 PM

Sunday we have the Nordic Regional conference with the same speakers plus a broadcast from Sister Esplin in the primary presidency and a short message from President Monson.  Let me just say that my heart goes out to President Monson.  I don't think that I've ever seen him look so sad.  But his love of the saints here and his love of Christ were most definitely evident.

We then were able to travel back to our area (we did have a lovely 2 and a half hour delay with our train though) with 14 other missionaries. 

In other news...I believe that I will be transferred this week.  I'll let you know more next week.

Favorite scripture of the week D&C 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."   I think I need to keep this in mind as much as possible in the next coming weeks.

Ran out of time, but I love you all!

Allie

Hello again! - June 2, 2013

It's been a bit interesting lately... but that's okay.  Super hard at times, but it makes those little conversations with strangers that don't even pan out into lessons worth all the more. 

The sad news is President Monson will no longer be coming to Sweden.  He will talk to us via Satellite but he won't be able to come (because of his wife, so it's completely understandable).  Elder Ballard is coming though (as well as a couple of others who's names escape me right now)!  We have an entire mission-wide conference this Saturday with Elder Ballard and we all get to go the Regional Conference on Sunday.  So off to Stockholm on Friday!

Investigators - Still don't have any yet, but we're working on it! 

Inactives - We've been able to make contact with several more people, including following up with those who let us in previously (we have a couple lessons planned this week with ones that were unable to meet last week, but were willing for us to come back).  We had a follow-up lesson with the couple that splits their time between here and Spain and were able to learn a little more about their conversion story.  We're looking into if they've been to the temple, because ultimately if they haven't been sealed, that is certainly the goal.

We continue to work with Christine and her daughter.  Christine has been to church twice in the last month, which is amazing!  We just try to invite the spirit as much into her life as possible to help her along.

I decided that I really like the scripture Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away."  I don't know why exactly, but this scripture really stood out to me.  I think it's something about having that complete and utter joy in the end.  All of these tough times will be worth it.

I didn't really take much in the way of pictures this week, but here's two of the lake in Vänersborg! 

And one more of Bohus Fortress (I'm not sure if I sent it last week)'

Love you all!

Allie