Sweden - April 15, 2013

a little more about general life in Sweden.

Transportation

I think I mentioned at some point or another that I actually technically live outside of my area.  So everyday I either have to walk 10/15 minutes to take the pendeltåg (commuter train basically), which is a about a 10 minute ride, to get to my work area or I have to walk 5 minutes take the bus (which is about a 20 minute ride), to get to my work area.  

From there we have been either walking or taking the bus pretty much everywhere.  Buses can me a little interesting at times though (there is this one investigator that lives out in the country that is like a 30 minute bus ride to get there and once we're there the next bus either doesn't come for at least another hour, or if it's a Saturday another 3 hours... we found that out the hard way, so that Saturday we had to walk 45 minutes to another bus stop so that we could make our next appointment).  We have 2 bikes among the four sisters living in my apartment but we haven't gotten them out yet... the weather hasn't been that optimistic yet.  

So in Sweden, the traffic lights turn yellow before it turns green as well as before it turns red.  The same system is applied to pedestrian lights.  Random I know, but I kind of like it. 

How we find/teach people

It really is in a variety of ways.  We've taught both Swedish and English classes (yeah, I don't do so much in teaching Swedish... though I probably can now, but we haven't taught Swedish in awhile).

We haven't really tracted, but we do quite a bit of street contacting.  But we do plan on going tracting this week because we found a street with the same name as my companion - so we kind of have to do something!

Mostly we've been working with either potential/old investigators we find in the area or with members.  On a typical week over half of our lessons are either with active or inactive members.  Anyway we can help!

My companion

I know that I've typed some of this, but my current companion is from Bountiful, Utah.  She's over 6 feet (so roughly a foot taller than me, especially when she wears heels on Sunday).  She studied Chemistry at the University of Utah before the mission and she has plans on going to pharmacy school once everything is done.  She doesn't have that much time left on the mission (she leaves around July 11th).

Food

As a whole, I would say that I like the food here, but it's a bit bland in comparison to some of my favorites.  You know how I like my spicy food!  But, that's okay really.  It just makes me laugh when someone warns me that something will be spicy, when really it isn't.  Not at all!

Weather

The snow is finally melting!  There are snow piles everywhere, but a lot of the ice has melted.  The last couple of days have been a bit drizzly, but I don't mind.  I do actually like rain after all.  You all might have a better idea of what the weather is like, because you can actually see what the forecasts actually are!  But it's been good.

The Last Week or so....

So that art show featured 2 artists.  One was more photograph based while the other used a variety of mediums (oil, watercolor, hand printing, pastels...).  There were a couple of things that I really liked (and a couple of photographs that would so be something Mom/Dad would use).  

My ankle is pretty much completely healed up and ready to work.  Meaning, it's still a bit weakened, but no pain whatsoever anymore.

Ah, running out of time, but I love you all and I'll write you next week!

Oh, can't forget a scripture.  

Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. "

I just like the emphasis on happiness!