Last week in February? Yes it is! - February 24, 2014

An update on the man who was going to get baptized, but disappeared.  We were able to get into contact with him. His sister had died unexpectedly (appendicitis actually, she was just unable to get to the hospital fast enough) and he had just found out right before the baptismal interview was supposed to happen.

He still wants to be baptized, but now he's in Paris. He wanted to meet with us before he left and we helped him find the address and times for several churches in Paris so he would be able to attend. The one thing that is good about all of this is that he will be able to hear everything in his native tongue.  Our thoughts and prayers are with him.

A couple of our other investigators are both still sick, so that makes things a little difficult to meet, but they are still progressing otherwise. One is starting to make connections about the essential role of prophets and the priesthood so that is definitely helping her understand. Another loves to learn more about the church and already has a testimony about the Book of Mormon; he is just starting to work though, so that makes it a little bit more difficult to meet with him. Everyone else is still makes steady progress which is just fantastic!

A picture of the picturesque town of Ystad. It's so cute! Totally what you expect when you think "Sweden".

And a picture of one of the ships you can find around town, a benefit of being a coastal city.

A picture of my latest big purchase, a truly Swedish backpack, a Fjällräven Kånken. It's really good quality, so it should easily last until after my mission as well. Looks nice, doesn't it? And nothing like what we have in the states. I like the color a lot.

A couple of other pictures. One of the skunk valentine I received from President and Syster Newell.... I didn't think that skunks would be a valentine choice, but I guess they are.

And proof that I am still the same person, a picture of some of the notes from a recent training meeting. Still doodle. A lot.

Scripture - Mosiah 27:35-36 " And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them.

"And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer."

I liked these verses a lot because they display the true character of the sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger. They were willing to do everything for restitution of the things they had done wrong.

I love you all!

Allie

Valentine's Day - February 17, 2014

I'll admit that this past week was a little on the rough side. We weren't able to get that many lessons and the man who was supposed to get baptized yesterday disappeared without any sort of notice or explanation. He didn't come to the appointment for his baptismal interview last Friday and we haven't heard from him since. I hope he is okay. BUT! The elders investigator was still baptized yesterday and that was a really good experience all the way around. The Spirit was definitely strong there.

Two of are other investigators were both able to come to church and they're feeling a little bit better (they had the flu) so if they keep recovering we can come visit them later this week and hopefully help them decide on a date to be baptized.

Other investigators are progressing. Three are all still reading the Book of Mormon and praying, they just haven't been able to meet with us because of school and work (their schedules have all been a little bit crazy these past couple of weeks).

Another is slowly progressing. He likes the Book of Mormon and when we showed him the Restoration Film he really liked it. He works a lot so it's a little bit difficult to meet with him, but we hope to help him keep progressing.

White Handbook - A funny thing that I've been thinking about is the whole don't have pets aspect (and how that is specifically mentioned). I don't know how anyone could really keep up with a pet while on their mission (maybe goldfish?), especially since I know how bad I can be with the plants in our apartment. I have to set in reminders in our phone to water the plants and they don't all die. I definitely understand why it wouldn't be a good idea to have a pet.

Love you all!

Allie

You know what... I realized I only have 4 transfers left. - February 10, 2014

Syster Vaarola is awesome! She's super cute and the ward loves the fact that she's Finnish =) I think she's going to be really good for Malmö!

A little about the people we're teaching:

One investigator is on track for his baptism this Sunday! He came to church and really seemed to enjoy it. We went through the interview questions and it seems like everything is in the clear. We plan on having his interview on Friday and then everything will be set.

We had family home evening with some investigators, and recent converts at the Bishop's home, and it went really well. None of them were able to come to church yesterday because they had the flu, but they seem to be doing well.

One investigator still wants to learn more. We're trying to help her understand the importance of the priesthood.

Two others both really like to read from the Book of Mormon. We're trying to help both of them recognize the Spirit working in their lives.

Another investigator is definitely progressing. She really likes the Book of Mormon and she has mentioned several times how she enjoys the spirit we bring into her home (of course we know that it is actually the Spirit). We taught her the plan of salvation last Friday and was definitely a spiritual experience.

A couple of scriptures from this week:

Proverbs 3: 5-6

"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Alma 31:5 "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." - Scripture Power! Ha-ha!

Mosiah 2:6 "And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple" -just thought it was good imagery of how we all need to have our own eyes to the temple. It is the ultimate goal of what we can do - prepare ourselves and prepare others and remain forever worthy of it.

Love you all! Sorry this was a little bit of a shorter letter this week!

Allie

February- the shortest month of the year - February 3, 2014

Transfers this week. Syster Eborn will be going up to Norrköping and I'll be receiving a Syster Vaarola as my new companion on Wednesday. Syster Vaarola is actually from Finland. She was companions with Syster Gambles before.

As for Malmö, Syster Gambles has actually served here before (when she left me in Örebro, she came down here) and Syster Faux and pretty much served in the same area (in a place called Lund, which is about 15 minutes away).

This past week I had the opportunity to go to the Copenhagen Temple to do baptisms with Michael and Angelica (two recent converts). So I've officially been to Denmark! It was an extremely good experience and frankly I just loved being at a temple again.

As for a random, small world moment. Guess who are the Temple President and Temple Matron of the Denmark temple? H. James Williams and Janet Christensen Williams, the parents of Chris Williams, who of course was my senior year seminary teacher. I got to talk to Syster Williams a bit. They're really nice! They started serving last November.

Maj-Elin officially received permission to be baptized! So that's extremely exciting news. We're hoping to help prepare her and Vanessa to be baptized on the same day. We'll be able to talk to them more fully later today.

Davide has had almost all of the lessons now and he's definitely very excited about his baptism. We're just trying to help him to be able to come to church. It's difficult because he doesn't have a bus card and it's a long walk to the church. We're trying to help him find a solution.

Rose and her family weren't able to meet with us yesterday, but we rescheduled for later this week.

Achmed is progressing and he's really doing well. He's continuing to pray about being baptized.

Arianna came to church and loved it! She really likes the Book of Mormon and we're planning to teach her about the Plan of Salvation later this week.

Scripture- Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you". This scripture has been reverberating in my mind this past week. It's applied to many different people on my mission, for which I am incredibly grateful and well as for others back home, including all of you!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Allie