New layout and mission stories!

A little heads up on what to expect from this blog in the future.

I will making a series of my favorite mission stories as well as talk briefly about the different areas that I served in while on my mission.  Pictures and everything fun will be headed your way!

Expect an update every Friday!


My new background is derived from this picture of Jönköping my first Monday (1 July 2014) in town.

Elder Bailey - March 10, 2014

To quote President and Sister Newell: One of our own has fallen. As a lot of you may have heard by now, Elder Mason Bailey was killed last night in a pedestrian/car accident. Elder Bailey was and will forever be a wonderful person, who knows how to get someone to laugh, who is always a hard worker and just all around good person.

I had the chance to serve in the same district as Elder Bailey while I was in Örebro and I just remember always liking him and what he stood for. He is just continuing his mission in a completely different, but eternal fashion. He'll be just as great of a missionary on the other side as he was here. But if you could keep his family especially in your prayers at this time, that would be greatly appreciated. I know that they should receive all of the comfort that they should get at this time.

First of all, thank you for all of your kind words and thoughts for us. It's been a bit of a rough week, but life continues onward and I know that everything will work out for the best. I'm just working hard to keep going and do everything that I have left to do. D&C 78:18 "And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours," helped me a lot this past week. I know that things will work out in the end. It's like the Mormon Message by Elder Holland about "Good Things to Come". Here's a link for everyone to be able to find it quickly: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911029449001

As a side note, no, I was not able to attend the memorial service that they had for Elder Bailey (it was just too difficult to get all missionaries there, so they had all of the missionaries from the Stockholm and Stockholm North zones, all of his former companions and his MTC group there). I know that he has made an impact on the mission. They forwarded everyone a little bit about Elder Bailey and what had happened to him and I'll include a portion of it:

"Elder Bailey...was serving in the Västerås Sweden Branch of the Stockholm Sweden Stake at the time of his death. Following church meetings in the Västerås Branch on Sunday, 2 March 2014, he had performed the baptism of a new convert to the Church. The new church member had been found and taught by him, and his companions. A few hours later he died instantly when he and his companion, Elder Max Barnes, were crossing a street in a marked crosswalk, and Elder Bailey was struck by a speeding vehicle....

"Elder Bailey is highly respected for his discipline, faith, knowledge of the gospel, work ethic, quick friendship with others, and infectious happy disposition. He is loved in Sweden by companions, fellow missionaries, Church members and friends of the Church."

The last part is definitely true.

Mars is marching on - March 10, 2014

First of all, thank you for all of your kind words and thoughts for us.

As for my week, we've been in contact with a couple of investigators and even though they have been extremely busy this past week, they are still praying and reading and wanting to learn more. We also met with the wife of the family that came to church last week and the entire family is interested in learning more. We have to start with the basics, because they just have a base knowledge of God and Christ, but it will all be worth the time it takes to teach them.  I even got the picture book again, so that'll help. 

(I had the Gospel Picture book, a very well-made purchase from back in Västerhaninge, but it was misplaced last month, so I ordered another one, but I got it now and now we're all ready to teach! It's such a great help honestly.).

Another sister has been making significant progress. We've started working on family history with her and she loves it! It's just helping increase her desire to come back to church. It's fun to see how others can get so excited about family history. I've been working on ours a little bit, but I'll admit it's hard to find things when we're limited to just familysearch.org and other church sites as missionaries. But, I've notice how sometimes as we search for the names of missing parents, we can find the names of others that deserve just as much to be found and recorded.

I've already been in Malmö longer than I was in Västerhaninge (making it officially my second longest area even at 10 weeks haha) and it's just a little weird to think about. And since I've been getting multiple questions about it, my official end date is July 24th. And honestly that day will come extremely fast, just because time seems to go so quickly nowadays. Okay, I know it goes at the same pace as it has always done, but it certainly feels different while on a mission.

Pictures:

This is one of the more famous buildings her in Malmö.  It turns!  Like a turso!  And yeah... I just said that.

And one of me and proof that I am in fact in Malmö.

More additions to the random statues you can find in Sweden:

I love you all!

Allie

"One of our own has fallen." - March 3, 2014

To quote President and Sister Newell.

As a lot of you may have heard by now, Elder Mason Bailey was killed last night in a pedestrian/car accident. Elder Bailey was and will forever be a wonderful person, who knows how to get someone to laugh, who is always a hard worker and just all around good person. I had the chance to serve in the same district as Elder Bailey while I was in Örebro and I just remember always liking him and what he stood for. He is just continuing his mission in a completely different, but eternal fashion. He'll be just as great of a missionary on the other side as he was here. But if you could keep his family especially in your prayers at this time, that would be greatly appreciated. I know that they should receive all of the comfort that they should get at this time.

Last week was a little bit of a difficult week, but it was full of miracles along the way. The less actives that we have been working with have been showing some real progress. One sister was able to come to the fireside we had last Friday about family history work and she loved it! She wasn't able to come on Sunday though, because her husband was sick and she had to take care of the kids. Another member is starting to show a desire to come back and he is trying hard to read and pray, which is helping him a lot.

As for the others we work with, most of them have been busy or sick this past week, but we have confirmed appointments with them for this upcoming week, which is always good =)

As for a miracle that happened this week, we had handed a mormon.org card with the church address to a man at the bus stop, just really saying hi and inviting him to church. On Sunday, he brought his entire family with him and we are going to meet them this Saturday to explain how the church began. They are definitely really interested! We were definitely inspired to talk to that man, even if it was just for so brief of an instant.

For a funny story of the week: We had an interesting experience while contacting on Wednesday. We contacted this one woman who was smoking and asked her what she thought was the meaning of life. She said that we had asked the right person. She then starts explaining how she has dealt with a lot of difficult things in her life, when this other lady with her dog (waiting to pick up a pizza) comes over and asks if she heard right that we were talking about the meaning of life. We explained that we were and the first lady continues to explain how she has found the strength to continue living each day, even among years of abuse. The original lady had to leave (we were able to give her a mormon.org card before she left) and we kept talking to the woman with the dog. She was interested in learning more, but didn't want to give us her number--but she was really happy to talk to us.

And then she lets her dog off of his leash so she could show us a couple of his tricks. He was a little skittish because there were way too many interesting things/smells on the street. But he eventually cooperated and showed us his trick of jumping through a loop that she makes with her arms.

And then this guy on a bike with a trailer comes around the corner and the dog immediately starts running and barking. The biker starts pedaling faster and the dog follows him. Syster Vaarola and I start running after the dog to help catch him--we definitely felt that it would have been our fault if something had happened to the dog. So just imagine this guy on a bike, with a trailer, a crazy barking dog, two sister missionaries in skirts and backpacks sprinting after them, and an older lady speed walking down the street. Yep.

Thankfully after rounding the corner, the dog decided to come back and we were able to catch him. We just sprinted down the one block ha-ha. The owner was certainly grateful.

And in happy news, a member that we've been working with received her temple recommend yesterday! So now she can go and receive her endowment. She just has a new light in her life and she has been radiating happiness.

Pictures:

The ocean...you can kind of almost see Denmark in the distance.

A really pretty church in a town called Svedala.  There were plenty of birds!  Haha!

The bridge to Denmark.

Scripture for the day - D&C 101: 15-16, 35-38

"15 And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.

16 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.

35 And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory.

36 Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.

37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.

38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life."

I felt that it was especially fitting in light of Elder Bailey.

I love you all!

Allie

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