25 November 2013
Happy Thanksgiving! - November 25, 2013
It's kind of strange to think about, but since I've already celebrated Thanksgiving, that's okay. The Bishop (who's American) and his family had the missionaries come and join their Thanksgiving celebration last Saturday. It was all super good food (we even had turkey and mashed potatoes, which are not Swedish staples) and a lot of fun. Adam (recent convert we've been working with) was also there (he's pretty much been adopted into their family as another son).
Last week we got the chance to watch the movie Ephraim's Rescue and I would definitely recommend it. I thought it was interesting and really well done... of course I still haven't seen 17 Miracles and that's the one that everyone recommends that we should see. Maybe around Christmas I'll get to see it.
Those we're teaching:
Collins is still doing well. He's trying to do what he can so he can come to church in December. He's just a little lonely since he's been stuck in a little town called Stråssa, which has absolutely nothing there.
Moses is doing really well, especially considering everything that has been going on in his life. He made the effort to come to church, even though he was only able to stay for about 45 minutes. We've been watching the Testaments with him, which I think is helping him understand the connection between the Bible and the Book of Mormon better.
Scriptures - Ruth 1:26 and 2 Corinthians 2:8 stood out to me, mainly because they remind me of two characters in one of the books I've written. Kind of random, but they inspired a couple of ideas for writing.
I hope you all will have a great week and a happy holiday!
Love,
Allie
18 November 2013
Trains, trains, trains - November 18, 2013
It's been a week with a lot of travel. Last week a freight train had derailed in a tunnel, which made travel a bit difficult (because a ton of trains had to be rerouted and even more were just canceled). One time a trip that can just take us a mere hour and 45 minutes, took over 5 and a half hours because of delays and rerouting and having to switch trains 4 times. But, we had the Zone Training/Conference in Stockholm as well as a weekend of Stake Conference in Stockholm this past week. We got a new stake presidency and they had the 40+ missionaries in the Stockholm stake sing during the adult session of stake conference (we sang the EFY medley in English, so it was something we were all familiar with).
Some pictures of Stockholm:
Last Monday, I officially ate a part of one of the biggest pizzas I've ever seen (I'll email a picture later). Adam wanted to take me and Sister Hauglid out to dinner and let me say that this pizza was delicious.
We have a new elder since Elder Muirbrook was transferred to be the zone leader of another zone. Our new elder is an Elder Schroeder.
A couple of updates on the people we teach:
Collins - we decided on a new baptismal date for January. We hope by then Collins will be able to save enough money to make it down to church once in December and once in January (when he can also be baptized).
Fredrik (recent convert) - is making a lot of progress! We went through the baptismal interview questions again and that helped him quite a bit.
Moses (recent convert) - has been having an extremely difficult time since we was denied permission to stay in Sweden. He has an appeal hearing in three weeks, so he still has a chance. Otherwise he'll stay at least until he turns 18. It helps that he has a strong testimony of God and Christ =) It is helping him make it through a lot better than it would have been otherwise.
Preach My Gospel - I've been making my way through the commandments lesson and something that stuck out to me was that the 10 commandments are all really about relationships: how we respect and treat God and others. It really has just been the two great commandments "Love God" and "Love thy neighbor as thyself" from the beginning =)
Romans 4:18 - It's just a phrase, but "who against hope believed in hope" stuck out to me. I just really like it.
Love,
Allie
We have a new elder since Elder Muirbrook was transferred to be the zone leader of another zone. Our new elder is an Elder Schroeder.
A couple of updates on the people we teach:
Collins - we decided on a new baptismal date for January. We hope by then Collins will be able to save enough money to make it down to church once in December and once in January (when he can also be baptized).
Fredrik (recent convert) - is making a lot of progress! We went through the baptismal interview questions again and that helped him quite a bit.
Moses (recent convert) - has been having an extremely difficult time since we was denied permission to stay in Sweden. He has an appeal hearing in three weeks, so he still has a chance. Otherwise he'll stay at least until he turns 18. It helps that he has a strong testimony of God and Christ =) It is helping him make it through a lot better than it would have been otherwise.
Preach My Gospel - I've been making my way through the commandments lesson and something that stuck out to me was that the 10 commandments are all really about relationships: how we respect and treat God and others. It really has just been the two great commandments "Love God" and "Love thy neighbor as thyself" from the beginning =)
Romans 4:18 - It's just a phrase, but "who against hope believed in hope" stuck out to me. I just really like it.
Love,
Allie
11 November 2013
Sweden - November 11, 2013
It looks like Syster Hauglid and I will be sticking with each other in Örebro for at least a little bit longer. The next official transfer happens on the 18th of December, so we'll see if I get to stay in Örebro until that point. If I do, that would mean that I'll have been in Örebro for a third of my mission. =) I want to stay through the 23rd when our American Bishop is going to have all of the missionaries over for a Thanksgiving celebration. But I'll do whatever I need to do.
We don't know when Collins will get baptized, because his economical situation has taken a downward turn so he is unable to come to church for some time (until he saves enough money to travel the 1 hour trek).
The Swedish woman we've been working with came to Relief Society again and most definitely wants to keep meeting. She's trying to rearrange her schedule so she can come to Sacrament meetings as well. She's definitely very much interested, we'll see how things pan out.
All of our recent converts (and I mean pretty much all 8 of them in the ward) seem to be having a rough time as a late. Between school, work (or the lack of), or the question about whether or not they will get to stay in Sweden has certainly been taking its toll on our people. I just want them all to be happy!
Scriptures from this week:
Deuteronomy 24:5 "When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up (HEB be happy with) his wife which he hath taken."
Thought it was interesting that they put so much emphasis on safeguarding that relationship--allowing the Israelites that time to be happy and have joy together during that first year together.
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Pretty much the same message with these two scriptures. Of course they remind me of President Monson's recent talk from General Conference. We're not alone, even if it is sometimes easy to think so.
John 21: 25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
There were so many different things that Christ taught. We have the chance to keep learning and growing every day.
Acts 2:36-38, 41: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost....
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
This is one of the scripture masteries with an extra verse added on the end, because I like to know the result of the events of that day. Miracles happen. They really do. It doesn't matter if they are "small" or "large". Little instances are often what "prick the hearts" of those we come into contact with and help them draw nearer to Christ.
Love you all!
Allie
District picture (last district meeting of our current district before upcoming transfers!)
Elder Lunquist, Elder Packer (he's moving to Örnsköldsvik), Elder Johnson (he was in my MTC district!), Elder Muirbrook (he's moving to Borås), me and Syster Hauglid
And a picture of everything we dumped into our Elders mailslot last week. 16 Kex bars (they're pretty much a better version of Kitkat and both of our elders really like them), 100+ notes containing quotes, inside jokes, and memories, two toothbrushes, confetti, and Book of Mormon picture figures. So you can just imagine their surprise when they opened their door and found this wonderful surprise! This was as mean of a prank we could do haha.
We don't know when Collins will get baptized, because his economical situation has taken a downward turn so he is unable to come to church for some time (until he saves enough money to travel the 1 hour trek).
The Swedish woman we've been working with came to Relief Society again and most definitely wants to keep meeting. She's trying to rearrange her schedule so she can come to Sacrament meetings as well. She's definitely very much interested, we'll see how things pan out.
All of our recent converts (and I mean pretty much all 8 of them in the ward) seem to be having a rough time as a late. Between school, work (or the lack of), or the question about whether or not they will get to stay in Sweden has certainly been taking its toll on our people. I just want them all to be happy!
Scriptures from this week:
Deuteronomy 24:5 "When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up (HEB be happy with) his wife which he hath taken."
Thought it was interesting that they put so much emphasis on safeguarding that relationship--allowing the Israelites that time to be happy and have joy together during that first year together.
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Pretty much the same message with these two scriptures. Of course they remind me of President Monson's recent talk from General Conference. We're not alone, even if it is sometimes easy to think so.
John 21: 25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
There were so many different things that Christ taught. We have the chance to keep learning and growing every day.
Acts 2:36-38, 41: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost....
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
This is one of the scripture masteries with an extra verse added on the end, because I like to know the result of the events of that day. Miracles happen. They really do. It doesn't matter if they are "small" or "large". Little instances are often what "prick the hearts" of those we come into contact with and help them draw nearer to Christ.
Love you all!
Allie
District picture (last district meeting of our current district before upcoming transfers!)
Elder Lunquist, Elder Packer (he's moving to Örnsköldsvik), Elder Johnson (he was in my MTC district!), Elder Muirbrook (he's moving to Borås), me and Syster Hauglid
And a picture of everything we dumped into our Elders mailslot last week. 16 Kex bars (they're pretty much a better version of Kitkat and both of our elders really like them), 100+ notes containing quotes, inside jokes, and memories, two toothbrushes, confetti, and Book of Mormon picture figures. So you can just imagine their surprise when they opened their door and found this wonderful surprise! This was as mean of a prank we could do haha.
04 November 2013
Sweden - November 4, 2013
It's been a little bit of a rough week with a lot of the people we've been teaching being busy, but it was a holiday week so we hope that this week will be much better.
First off, Collins wasn't baptized yesterday. He had an interview with immigration and they had to take him up to Boden (to get there he had to leave Saturday morning and arrive Sunday afternoon because it is so far away). We hope to move it to a date later this month, but we don't know exactly when right now.
Halloween in Sweden; they don't really do all that much here. It is apparently more popular down south. They do celebrate All Saint's Eve (which was on November 2nd) where they place lighted candles on family graves. It's actually really beautiful. It also marks the first day of winter.
Some scriptures I liked from this week:
Deuteronomy 20:7- in regards to selecting soldiers- "And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her." (just thought it was an interesting concept),
Luke 18 and the parable of the unjust judge (I mainly find this story a little funny because I can just imagine this judge cowering at the thought of the widow coming to ask him again to take care of her enemies, and eventually relenting. But of course, knowing this, how much more apt is God and Christ to answer our prayers in comparison), and
Luke 22: 32, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Love you all!
Allie
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