Wait on the Lord

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 4:26 AM
Subject: Wait on the Lord

Nära och Kära

Each and every week seems to fly by! Pdays just run together to create a mess of a timeline. So many great things happened this week! Lets get down to the summary of this week!

Måndag! We visited Göteborg, it was super weird to return to an old area  but I have been blessed and have been able to go back to all of my old areas. Well "All" of them sounds like a lot, its only been two but each time its been a great blessing. I was able to see Mette again and hang out at the center with The Andersons. It felt almost as if I didnt leave. Until of course, we had to leave and catch our train back to Jönköping. We had a bit of time to get to know Äldste Ririe and Äldste Astin, they serve in Skövde and had the same train as ours. It was awesome to know what spårvagns and times and things to get to where we needed to go. Quite different than what it is here now. Im still learning those things. Our train got delayed because of snow and traffic so we cancelled our language study with a member and did our companionship inventory på tåget. We then visited with the Bishop about less actives that we can visit and those who no one knows for sure. It felt like a great blessing to be able to finally go through the ward list with people who knew more then us.

Tisdag! We met with an older (physically) investigator who is a member of another church and we were going to talk about repentance. We have taught her practically everything else, but she still won't make a commitment. We took a bus out to her house. She is super nice and kind. We began about how she felt at church. Through conversation we found out that she doesnt think that there is really a big difference between us and christians. She can't understand that our church is the only true church. Its an interesting dilema. We have since taken the question to many other members and asked them. So I ask you all, "How do you know that this is the only true church?" or "does it matter to you?" We gave  her the 17 Points to the True church card and she said she would look it up. She is great and I really want to help her out. We then met with Tony and showed him the 10 commandments in the Book of Mormon as well as in the Bible. He liked that a lot. He is praying for a baptismal date and will most likely move to Stockholm which is good but sad to see him go. He is awesome. Our dinner was cancelled so we were supposed to eat dinner with Äldste and Syster Rasmussen but our investigator came and it took a while to teach. He loves the new testament and is focused on reading the bible so doesnt really have the time to read in the Book of Mormon. He is going to call us again once he has time and has read some in it. It was difficult to end it that way but You have to be willing to change in order for the gospel to effect you.

Onsdag! Albert was supposed to come but he slept in. So we talked with Wilson our member who helps translate for him about serving a mission. We looked also at the Mormon Messages site its super good. you should all check that out if you havent for a while because there are a lot of good short videos on there. A great spiritual upliftment when the day is long at work or when you feel alone. We then had a lunch at the Bishops house with the Rasmussens. The Bishop is super cool and his wife is sweet! Hopefully we are going to learn some swedish cooking from her! Im excited for it. We then had the opportunity to meet again with Desire, he loves the Plan of Salvation so we went and showed scriptures about each aspect. He had to go meet someone right after but he is awesome! I got to experience Visiting Teaching for the first time here. I went out with my companion to a young ladies apartment and we talked about things. She is super nice and was willing to ask me questions and listen as I stumbled with my words to respond. She is a sweetheart. I only have met her that one time but it was great. My companion from the ward is super nice too! She enjoys uplifting the people she visits by conversation and the gospel. Its not just a check off from her list of things to do. Her heart is in it.

Torsday! We had our first District Meeting ever! Its been a while because of zone conferences and things but it went well. Äldste Rice and Äldste Norr! (the same one from when I was in Västra Frölunda) are in our district as well as the awesome Rasmussen couple. We did a district Unity activity after having lunch. We made a cake, it was awesome to see how we all worked together to make it. None of us had any idea really what we were doing and having to convert DL to C and things like that. It was great! We really enjoyed the time we had together. We had a district meeting about what a district meeting should entail. Im excited to see what Äldste Rice has planned for us. Its great to see different missonaries in different situations and the interaction that goes on. We planned to take a bus to go see Pauline but they all didnt work with when we needed to be there and back. So we asked a member to drive us out there. She was awesome and so real! She made jokes and wasn't uptight with us. I really appriciated it. Pauline is awesome! We talked about President Uchtdorfs talk about the Forgetmenots. She wants to go to the temple and also get her patriarchal blessing! We are going to help her accomplish those both. Her Husband is super nice too. I made faces at their daughter so she likes me too now =) I haven't lost that ability yet!

Fredag! We taught our dear friend Albert! He is awesome we showed him the Restoration Video and he remembered the first time he heard about it. He is so humble and willing to learn. I love teaching him! We then went straight to the Wiklöfs for our lesson with Ulla. We came early and were able to come in and chat with Edith beforehand. They are the cutestest people ever! The lesson went well and Ulla wants to do some researching for herself and then we will meet again next friday. She is a sweetheart! She can teach us how to cook as well. I hope we will have time to do some of that! We did weekly planning at home and got lots of plans orgainized. Its interesing how well you can understand a person when you pay attention. Syster Schneiber is super good at noticing things. We work well together and I am so blessed to have her has my companion right now!

Lördag! We did some less active action on saturday. It was great! We met a man who has a great testimony of Christ and misses church and wants to become active again. We are going to meet with him every week and help him get back what he knows he has lost! He is awesome! I really want to help him out! I just feel for him, reminds me of people I know I guess. Its awesome. I have noticed that Heavenly Father helps me to help other people by letting me recognize someone I know in them. Its great! I really appriciate it. Another young man we've been working with went to the hospital in the morning because he had a pain in his chest and it ended up being a ruptured corinary artery (yes, I cannot spell in english still! It's interesting to stink at two languages!) We met an awesome family in our ward the Robayos. They are great! We had lunch with them and it was very great to just hear about their lives and things. We then got to visit with Li about Christ and he has a strong testimony too. We watched Faith in Christ with him and it went really well. The Rasmussens took us to go see Our friend in the hospital and He was up and stood at the door as we spoke of what happened. He has such a wonderful attitude I think everyone could learn a lesson or two from him about being happy no matter what.

Söndag! We did a surprise breakfast for the Rasmussens for all of their hard work! It was awesome! We really enjoyed it! We then went to the church to practice our musical number with Jennifer Thörn and Sandra Lärsson. They are two of the super YSAs we have here in Jönköping. The meetings we great as usual! I learned a lot. We sang a cappella and I sang Alto with Syster Schneiber. It went alright. I never thought I would ever do that but now we've done it three times! Crazyness! We had dinner with the Malms who are planning on serving a mission soon! They are awesome and I can completely see some family resemblances of a few of the other Malms that I have already met. We met then with the Thörn family and got them studying more in Preach My Gospel. They are awesome! I really enjoy visiting them.

This week has been a great opportunity for me to notice the little blessings we recieve everyday from the Lord. Its an interesting thing that when life gets tough we all of a sudden forget the simple things and truths in life. My stomach hasn't been doing too well this week. I think its been due to stress. So I have given myself my own challenge that I want to give you now. Challenge Time! Make a blessing journal! No matter who you are no matter what you believe in this is something that you can do. In a world where we have so many things that we want to do, have and become. Its so easy to be caught up in the hub bub of going and going to get and get. I can promise you that thats a tough way to live. If you take the time to recount at the end of the day all of the blessings that you have recieved you will feel pretty silly that you were waiting for something that you have already been given. In Relief Society on Sunday we read the talk " Waiting upon the Lord: Thy WIll be done" By Robert D. Hales. I hope that you all can take the time to read it. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng (haha no excuses!) I know that as you do these things you will be able to recognize and be thankful for more things then you ever thought would be possible, I know that because I have done it this week and that is exactly what happened with me. There is no greater happiness then knowing you are blessed and being able to be thankful for it.

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week! You Rock!

Kram,

Syster Juker

Be what you want to become Everyday

January 23, 2012

Nära och Kära

This week has been full of work and miracles! Its been amazing! We are sincerely enjoying Jönköping together! 

Last Monday, we took it easy and wrote letters in the apartment. It was quite different from the normal hubub of pday. We then got to meet with Jerry! He is swedish and pretty awesome. He wants to know if God is there but wont really commit to anything (which seems to be typically swedish mentality). He is sincere though and we are all super excited to work together. We then met with Desire and he is awesome. He comes from Africa and has an amazing story. He is part of a minority tribe where the other tribes of people are hostile towards them. He showed us his scar from a bullet grazing his ear when he was young and then a machette wound from when they came to massacre his town. He has an amazing faith and knows that he has been lead safely away only through the power of God. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and his comment was, "This has been the answers to questions I have had my whole life and you have kept them secret!" He is awesome! We just have to figure out how to meet more often with him. He is a busy man.

Tuesday, we had an early morning as we met with some kids for a school project. I had some major stomach issues but Ann Sofie saved us and was able to take my companion on splits as I uplifted a family in the ward. We then met Albert, he is from China and is really starting to believe in God. His growth has been awesome. We taught him about how keeping the commandments will enable you to be blessed in all other areas of your life. Its pretty awesome! He said he will test out keeping the Sabbath Day holy and not studying on sunday. Im super proud of him! We then met with Tony who is praying about being baptised. He is super awesome and really has a strong testimony of the gospel already. We called it an early night and went home to eat and plan some lessons for this week and make some phone calls. Syster Schneiber was very patient and loving towards me as I felt absolutely horrible. 

Wednesday, we had Zone Conference! It was a mighty experience. As I sat in the back partway through I realized that I knew everyone in the zone except 4 or 5. It felt like I had been there and a part of this group forever. It was a nice feeling. We woke up early and drove with Äldste and Syster Rasmussen at 7am. It was cool in the car we read Alma 32 outloud via flashlight because it was still super dark. We learned about how to strengthen our faith as missionaries. It was wonderful! Like always Rich Holdaway provided lunch for the conference and I was able to say hello and thanks to him. It was awesome! He is great! We readjusted our Standards of Excellent and its awesome! I feel confident in achieving them weekly and springboarding off of them. 

Thursday we really focused efforts on contacting 10 people. We had many opportunities to put good old contacting to use as a few of our lessons canceled on us. (like half) We met a man who wants to change his life and become a more active member even though his wife isn't necessarily supportive right now. We are being cautious but he is super sincere. So this will be interesting. We scared the Rasmussen's as they were getting in their car after shopping but Syster Rasmussen said that it made her day. We then got to contact some more people as another lesson fell through. We met a less active member who brought his friend to church who had never heard about the church so we directed it to her. She is super cool! I hope to continue to teach her. We ate dinner with the YSAs it was good. We taught Tony about repentance and the spirit was super strong. I was able to remember something that I had been taught about a year ago about why we repent and the Spirit prompted me to say it. It made since to everyone there and we all felt uplifted. We are focusing on the YSAs and we have great plans in store! Its kinda like how it was at home in the branch before. I know Heavenly Father has helped to prepare me in this. 

Friday Ive been calling most everyday about my missing bag and nothing has come up yet. We called and it always says (the recording) "Du har # samtal förre dig, Tach för att du väntar!" So we had that stuck in our heads as we went through out the day. We met with the Wiklöfs today and had a great spirit in the lesson. Edith and Torstan are the sweetest couple I have seen! He is sick but has a super strong testimony! When we left he said, "I'm going to church even if I start to grow wings." I want to have church be so much apart of my life when I become his age. We met with Albert again with Wilson. They could speak chinese and understand each other so we got to really understand Albert. We taught the Plan of Salvation and he had really good questions. We visited the Strömberg family and met Benjamin bunny and Romeo the cat. That family is certainly one of my favorites so far. Syster Strömberg reminds me of Aunt Gina and her daughters remind me of Kathrine and Melanie. We get along already. I also learned that Syster Strömberg has the same silly finger that I have. So its pretty funny, gave everyone a good laugh!

Saturday We had a miracle as one of our investigators told us she didnt feel comfortable at church, our member opened up her home and we were able to teach her there. She had so many questions and they were gold! On the bus ride to the house we learned that her parents were coffee plant inspectors or something like that. We both thought, "So Word of Wisdom will be tough." It was brought up by her questions about how do you turn down coffee when its offered to you every fika time. She asked me what I say when Im offered it. I said I choose not to drink it. She agreed and how it makes since to not drink it. She doesnt either. We were relieved! It started a crazy snow storm while I was in a somewhat summery skirt! Yes I am from California and everyone makes comments about that! 

Sunday we had a great day and got 3 investigators in church! They were all super excited as well! We had a great dinner with a member family with less active kids who joined us for parts of it. My favorite part was with a member family we are working with to do some missionary work! We had them practice the restoration sharing each main point in 2 minutes and using each member in the family. Then doing it one sentence at a time. It was super cool! They seemed surprised when I spoke swedish with them though. I just am more quiet then they are used to. 

Challenge time! This comes from Zone Conference! "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." and "Faith and character are intimately related. faith in the power of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is intended to be used. Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character; fortified character expands your capacity to exercise more faith. As a result, your capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced. The more your character is fortified, the more enabled you are to benefit from exercising the power of faith." My challenge to you is to assess your house that is built on the Rock of Christ and find those elements of the gospel that you are struggling to keep strengthened in. The ones that you are doing but not doing completely. Find them and strengthen them so that when the winds come you wont feel a draft. Especially the Primary answers Read pray and go to church. They are the best to begin with. I know that as you strengthen your house you will feel more peace then you have felt in your life!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love

Syster Juker

Jönköping

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 4:05 AM
Subject: Jönköping

Nära och Kära! (Loved Ones)

Well this weeks message is coming from Jönköping from Me and Syster Schneiber! It's pretty crazy how fast time flows these days! I can hardly keep up with the days. Luckily I have a great planner to keep me sane and remind me what is going on all the time. I love it here! It was certainly an adventure to get here. But I'll relay that in the timeline dealio!

Monday- last pday in Västra Frölunda and boy was it fun. Last thing you had heard was that it was snowing and that I needed to go out and play. I finished up and Mette and I went out to make snowmen and play around while waiting form my companions. We then went shopping. It was Syster Jensons last pday too. So we did what she wanted obviously =) I was struggling with staying interested at the task at hand so in one store Syster Sprague gave me a purple beard from a scarf thing. In another store Mette and I tried on bright green and pink pants, so we could be watermelons. It was pretty awesome. The center opened so all the YSAs were around and were able to write in my buddy book before leaving. I got a great blessing on monday from my zone leaders to help with my tooth pain. The priesthood is real and I am so thankful for that.

Tuesday- I woke up super sick. It wasn't fun, I think part of it was stress from moving and packing and things. We got to see Erik who is now home in a wheelchair. We watched 17 miracles with him and the Spirit was great and he could feel it. It was awesome. We the visitied a family that Syster Jenson wanted to go say goodbye too. But since Syster Sprague and I were sick we stayed in the hallway so that we didn't get them sick. It was quite commical. We hadn't gone shopping for food so we had to do that before the switch. We got to go to the Holdaways and say goodbye. They are awesome. Eli wasn't there but we got to say goodbye to Enya. Im going to miss them a lot! We then made our way home to pack up everything possible. It was ridiculous! We didn't stay up too late just 11 ish so thats good.

Wednesday- my train left central station at 8:02 so it was an early morning! Äldste Anderson and the zone leaders came to help with luggage for the two of us. Luckily Äldste Anderson came early and just took all of our bags. Äldste Jenkins and Nelson got me worried as 8 came closer and closer and they were not there. Mette was coming to the train station to say goodbye so I gave her the code for my ticket she printed it out and was waiting for us. As we race car drove to the station she gathered my bags from Äldste Anderson and took them to the spår where I was leaving. My companions and I poured out of the car at a distant red light and sprinted to the train. It went super fast. Äldste DeLeeuw and Nelson were there to give me my buddy book and say goodbye. Before I knew it I was on a train by myself going to somewhere I had never been before with no cell phone. It was pretty crazy! I had to switch trains and the transfer was ridiculous I had to take and elevator down and then go under 2 spårs and then back up. Luckily the train waited for me! The man was super nice. He helped me a bit. AsI sat down I realized I lost a bag. =( The one with my big journal that I love, most of my letters that I have received a blanket. Oh the list goes on. But we are tryin to track that down today. I got to the station and waited for my companion. I was a little worried when she didn't come at 10:04 when I got in but decided to wait till 10:40 because that had been the time we both had been given. She arrived and Äldste and Syster Rasmussen came and took us to our apartment to unload everything. The apartment is even bigger than Halmstad's. Its crazy! I'll attach pictures of it. We had 3 lessons. One with Emanual, a man from Ghana who loves the new testament and has lots of questions. Reminds me a bit of Sammy. Then I met Pam a wonderful lady from New Guinea, she is super! We had a member lesson with Robin and Aurora where we taught them the Restoration in preparation for them sharing the gospel with their friends. Its a system that Syster Dabb and Schneiber came up with that I think is going to work really well. It was a long day and I slept wonderfully!

Thursday- Our district meeting was postponed because we have Zone conference this week. So we had time to take a trip, finally to the dentist. It was super funny afterwards I had a lysp. So dont worry we made a video of me talking so that you can all see that one day. The synopsis is that I have to get a root filled. Its expensive and Ill have to go back a few times to get it all done. I dont know what to do. We shall see. We spent the day in the area book for a while getting to know the people and members we are working with. It felt awesome, but there are so many names and things. I am certain that it will take a while to get them all straight in my head. I met Pauline! She is absoluetly awesome! We met at the train station as she waited for her bus so it was a little noisy but the Spirit was strong as we talked about God and how we maintain a relationship with Him through reading our scriptures. Weve got her signed up for an every other day text to remind her to read her scriptures. Her daughter is adorable too! We were invited to have dinner with the YSAs, there are a few less then in Göteborg but they are super nice. A daughter of a member in Västra Frölunda remembered me from when we were all at her parents house for the holidays. Then afterwards we went to meet with a less active man who reminds me of Dad. He has had a rough life with many ups and downs but he still has a testimony and is super nice. He had lived in the states for quite a many years but now is back and sweden and is picking back up is swedish. He is cool and I am looking forward to working with him.

Friday- we had an early morning as we went and helped people pack up to move. Then to visit Ulla an investigator at a members house. The Wiklöfs are awesome. Torstan is sick but is probably the sweetest man on earth. He helped us begin the lesson and then went and layed down. Ulla is really searching but is involved also with the swedish church, so its really good to teach her. We talked about her helping us with our swedish and she thought it was a great idea. We can teach eachother! It will be awesome! We then headed home and did some real weekly planning and it was absolutely awesome! (notice awesome is the word of the email!) We did take a pause to get more focused. We walked into town to find a single hole punch. Like the handheld ones we have at home. But they are not in existance here. They have no such thing! We went all over the place and we cant seem to find one. Its super difficult to keep everything organized in an american binder with not an american hole punch. But we havent given up some other apartments have them so we are hoping.

Saturday- It was a busy day and it felt awesome! We haven't really been this busy in a long time. We met up early with Tony and he confirmed the 28th for his baptismal date! We are super excited he comes from Uganda and is great! Syster Rasmussen then drove us out to Pauline's house where we were able to teach her husband as well. He read in the Book of Mormon and wanted to read more about The Family:A Proclamation to the World. They are an incredible family! We had a lunch with the Thorn family, who are super awesome! The Rasmussens were with and I am really enjoying having missionary pairs around. They bring so much to the table. Both the Andersons and the Rasmussens have helped me out so much its awesome. I am so grateful for them. We met Johannes a less active who has an awesome outlook and attitude about life. We just need him to spread that to the people at church and life for everyone would be better. We were working on making a map for the area when Sala came in, a bus driver who the previous missionaries contacted. He is pretty nice we taught him and he wants to learn more. We are excited about all the miracles and all of the great things happening here! We had a lesson cancel so we were able to have some swedish study with a YSA. It was interesting to see how much that whole not hearing sound differences comes back as you try to work on your pronounciation. I still am no good at some words in swedish. I just can't hear the sounds.

Sunday- we had a YSA counsel meeting before church. I met so many members that I cant keep straight their names in my head. This ward is awesome at making you feel welcome. It seems like every ward has a little bit of a different way to do it but they all work super well. During Relief Society I got the chance to translate a little for Syster Rasmussen. I really enjoy doing it because i can English, I have a hard time with Swedish still. Its going forward though! In Sunday school we taught Tony about keeping the sabbath day holy and he told me how much more it made sense to him as we sat and waited for Sacrament meeting to start. I had to introduce myself in sacrament meeting again. Its crazy that its been about 6 months since I had experienced the crazy, "I don't know anyone" feeling that comes when you go to a new area. We had a dinner with Kjell and his girlfriend and it went wonderfully. We were able to visit a less active on the other side of town and read scriptures with her. We then thought of an investigator who lived near. As we got closer to the stop it didnt feel right. As I turned to Syster Schneiber to tell her how I felt she shared the same apprehension. We determined it was the spirit and we decided to visit a different less active near church. The Holy Ghost does guide us! We just have to be listening and worthy of it. I dont know what could have happened or what would have happened had we gone but I do know that Heavenly Father was guiding us last night and It felt a whole lot better as we past the bus stop still on the bus.

So my new area is awesome, I'm still working on learning the area but Syster Schneiber is great! We get along great and I really enjoy being her companion. Its crazy only being two again. I have to talk a lot more often now. I like it though.

Challenge time! While I was in sacrament meeting on sunday there was a member who was talking about the gladness and happiness that we are given as being members of Christ's Church. My challenge to you all is to find a time to give that a chance. This week take a conversation and make it go the way of the gospel. I know that as you have the desire to do so in your heart and you pray for Heavenly Fathers help he will help you to have the courage to speak and that he will inspire you with the words to say. He has done that so many times for me I know it works and it will for you too. Just test your faith and do it to it!

Have a great week! I love you all!

Love

Syster Juker

Transferred!!

Jennifer Juker jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net	Jan 9, 2012

Well Everybody!

The time has come and now I must leave Västra Frölunda! But this all came about awesomely so lets get to the summary of the week!

Monday, it was difficult but I made it through. My companions were very kind to me as I was feeling very sick. They allowed me to sleep and got laundry done and then made breakfast for me as I took a shower. We then went to the center to do our emails. Mette came and did splits with me so that I could relax. We did some service at our apartment for my companions and then came and taught Tony. We listened to a talk in portuguese and taught about the Word of Wisdom. It was awesome to see how much he actually understands when we teach. He just has a tough time clarifying his understanding in Swedish.

Tuesday, we did some splits again as we found old investigators and Mette and I went to Eriks to see him. While I was waiting for Mette to come I remembered that we hadnt sent in orders for a while. So I got the list made and logged on to my email to send them in. And Voila! I had an email from Stephanie about Alexander! Boy was I excited! I loved the first line. "I hope that you have some random reason to check your email before next monday." It certainly was a random reason and I am so thankful that I was able too! It made my day! He is doing so good. He is going home actually today! He is in a wheel chair and is as happy as can be. Not stimulated by pain meds even. We started going through the baptismal questions and boy are we all thankful for google translate. He didnt really understand the wording of the question in Swedish. So we used it to translate to portuguese! He is super sweet! Afterwards we went to visit Kierstin, she is doing better each time we visit her. She is also working on giving a Book of Mormon out. 

Wednesday, we are working on doing church tours here in Västra Frölunda so I have been teaching my companions how we did them in Visalia. Its super cool the Spirit it brings. We are planning on taking the YSAs on them before investigators so we can work all of the kinks and things out. We visited Christer and gave him part of Preach My Gospel to help him recognize the Spirit in his life. We got blåsted by Mike again, we called an hour before our appointment time and he said he was on his way then 15 minutes after the time he was supposed to be there and he said he was driving. Its sad to see him ignore us like that. He was super good and has a great testimony of Christ. 

Thursday, we had District Meeting. Äldste Carr and Mikola taught about the story of David and Goliath. It was super good. We learned a bunch of things. Which leads into my challenge for this week! The talk is called "Meeting Your Goliath" by President Monson. http://lds.org/new-era/2008/06/meeting-your-goliath?lang=eng&query=finding+your+goliath Now there is no excuse! Please take the time to read the talk and apply it to the Goliaths in your life. What are things in your life that need to be reassessed and taken one step at a time to overcome? How can you overcome things that seem so big you can't clear it? I know that it is only by our faith in the Lord and Savior that we are able to make our weak things strong (Ether 12:27) We must have the courage to give them to the Lord and with His power our weaknesses will become our strengths! I have seen this time and time again while here in Västra Frölunda. I've got tons of weaknesses Im working on here and I cant seem to overcome them myself, try as I might. But the second I become humble enough to ask the Lord for help and to work with me I am able to be that help to Him, myself, and others. It's a wonderful experience. We then stopped by Erik to see how things were going after a less active forgot about our appointment. We had a dinner with a member and the Elders. We found a book called Happiness for Dummies. I really enjoyed it we learned about ways to know if a smile is a real smile or not! It's now an inside joke between our little Västra Frölunda family. 

Friday, we had a Family Picnic as we met at the center and had Mosens and homemade cobbler for lunch with the elders. We all know that the time is short for us all being together so we spent a lot of the day working and planning at the center. Talitha made it back while we were looking for a talk for Tony. Syster Sprague jumped out and practically tackled her! I followed shortly behind. Since the center has been closed it just seems that she has been on vacation and now is home. But she is actually not. So its sad! We had lots of fun with her though. She helped us with some problems and as always brought a mature side to the wabbly missionary table. 

Saturday, our studies were rough! It was difficult to concentrate as we awaited Presidents call. He called during our second hour of study. I'm going to Jönköping with Syster Schneiber! Im senior companion, this will be her second transfer. Im super excited and as you all can imagine a little stressed. I know that if that's what President feels I am prepared for; Heavenly Father will prepare me. I have so many ideas that I want to run past her so I am excited to get to see her and get to know her more. Ive only seen her once before. We then visited Christer and had a great conversation about feeling the Spirit through the music thats around us. Its awesome! He recognized the Spirit in the Music and it helped clear up his understanding a lot. We began a fast with the YSA to help some of them in their situations. It was super cool to be involved of such a spiritual experience for all of these YSAs who care so much about those around them. They Rock! I will never forget them. 

Sunday, we had our last sacrament meeting in Västra Frölunda. We were able to have many members sign in my buddy book and took pictures with lots of them. It was awesome. We switched our fast sunday to this sunday so we were all able to bear our testimonies. It was funny. Äldste DeLeeuw made his way to the front and Syster Jenson was quick at his heals. I was sitting by Syster Sprague so I asked her "Am I supposed to go now?" She said yes so I went up too. I got a little teary eyed as I bore my testimony of thankfulness to all of the many good people who I have learned so much from in the time that I have been in this ward. They all rock and I am so thankful for the chance to serve here. We ended up not having a dinner planned so Västra Frölunda decided to have another dinner at the center together. Once we arrived at the center our Zone Leaders were there so they joined us for dinner. It was really nice to get to know everyone a little better before we all go separate ways. Jenson is going to Gävle and DeLeeuw is going to Stockholm Sprague is staying here and getting two new companions. There have been many changes this transfer and Im excited to see the miracles from them. I feel the Lord is in all that has gone on and that will go on. Although I will miss this center and all my friends here I know that there is some reason why i need to go to Jönköping. Not sure what it is but I wasn't sure why I needed to serve a mission, why I went to Halmstad or even why I came here. But after it all I know that I have been blessed in all of the areas that I have found. Its great to figure them out after it all! Heavenly Father is guiding us even when we can't really place a finger on where it is. 

Right now Its snowing outside and I can hardly stand it any longer! I must go out and play! P-day is today and I cant wait to get out in there. The Elders have gone to play soccer but we have other plans of shopping and hanging out for the last time here in Västra Frölunda. The cool thing is, is that I can potentially come back on pdays and visit Syster Sprague and the other sisters that will be here next. I hope to hear from everyone soon! I love you all! Thanks for all of your support!

Love

Syster Juker

Faith Builders

Faith Builders

Jennifer Juker	3:38 AM (6 hours ago)
to john, me

Nära och Kära,

Wowzers! Has this week been one for the books! Its gone by super slow but at the same time super fast! That stinkin' time warp from the MTC continues! I never thought about it before, but the days felt so long at home, now before I know it Im dead tired and in bed. I love it! It feels so good to go home and be completely spent from the work of our Savior! I kinda feel it catching up with me though. I may be catching a cold as well as a tooth ache. Ut oh! Ill keep you posted as things go along.

Last Monday we kept a tradition up of having an "Annan Dag" tradition with the Baker family. They had a huge Christmas feast for us missionaries and we were able to watch movies with them. i played some Wii Sports with Sophia and It just felt weird to be doing those kinds of things. They were having a difficult time deciding on a movie so I played and when I came back to the room they were starting Bilar 2! I wanted to see it so bad and I got too! So no worries Mom we will be able to watch it again together and Juju can be there too! 

Last Tuesday we had a different kind of day because it was tuesday and we hadn't done weekly planning. We decided to do that before the week got away from us. Its been hard to keep our investigators because as soon as we find out where they live its not in our area. We are determined to find more people to teach so we buckled down and went through our area book. There are a lot of people in there, so we just started calling and ended up getting a bunch of appointments from people who are wanting more. The records go back a few years, now it seems like these people who dropped themselves are willing to make changes and do more to follow their Savior! Its an exciting time! We then had dinner with a less active who made us cupcakes with different patterns on top. They were pretty delicious! We had some time afterwards to visit someone. I felt like we needed to go visit our new member who is struggling a little bit. So we headed his way. i was a bit disappointed as we rang up and no one answered. We tried it a second time, and he let us up. He had just got back from seeing his son in Denmark and hadnt even set down his bags before we had rung up. He told us that our timing was incredible. I remember going to teach him and how hard I had to listen to understand his swedish and be able to respond somewhat intelligently. But this time it was simple, I could teach and explain his questions when given the chance. Its been such a wonderful growing experience here in Västra Frölunda! I can swedish! It felt wonderful!

Last Wednesday, we planned on visiting less actives. Our dear friend Kiersten hadnt been at church so we went to visit her first. It was windy and rainy, so we figured she would stay in her house because of health problems. As we turned a corner Syster Sprague noticed, "Hey isnt that Kiersten?" and sure enough it was! All bundled up and walking to the post office to send Christmas gifts to her grandchildren. She made us promise we would come back another time. So we did! She lives right around the corner from Dancia, an amazing member in our ward, whom we havent seen in a long while. So we decided to go and visit her. She randomly came to mind as we came up the stairs to find Kiersten. She had been having a rough week and thought about us the night before as she was crying. Its been an awesome experience to be able to follow the spirit and know how to help those around me. I dont know that I have been able to recall so clearly a prompting from the spirit as I have this past week! Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and it shows in all of the things that happen everyday! Even the things that are difficult to go through can be for our blessing in the end. That truth is a major part of my growing testimony! We went and saw another concert of Sophias Christmas tree thing. It was pretty sweet! Im pretty sure the songs were all the same as the time before but it was awesome! Ive lived here since June ish and I had never been to the bishops house until this evening! It was pretty awesome! They are all so fun to be with! We laughed and ate lots of food. Syster Angelini told us that a young women in our ward had stuffed 17 of these santa marshmellow people in her mouth at once. So after that we were determined to try! I fit like 6 and my companions both fit all 17! It was an adventure but it was great!

Thursday our district meeting was great! Our district leaders Nelson and DeLeeuw retold the story of Lots wife and looking back. But our looking back was good. We sort of counted our blessings from this past year and made goals to become better this year. It was great! We then went to visit a less active in Molndahl before visiting Erik. He has had surgery on both of his legs and is in a lot of pain. He was in tears as we were talking with him, so he hid is face in his hands and began to breathe really hard. But just as always, his attitude clicked back in as he said, "shu, shu, LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER!! shu shu!" I dont know that there is anything in this world that can get that kid down! He is awesome and is working on praying again! Im excited to see his progress!

Friday we had weekly planning again! twice in the same week it was pretty intense. Syster Jenson got Chirstmas! So we celebrated with her as she opened her presents. Then we went to a family for dinner! It was pretty awesome, the children were all excited to see us and still on that Chirstmas candy high. It was fun to hang out with them for a little bit. Then we met by the ocean a few of the YSA and did a memorial for Mettes mother. Who had passed away a few years ago. We lit lanterns together on a little island. It was a super nice experience. As we were walking home a puppy ran up to us! It was so excited and scared at the same time. We decided to help it out, it was freezing. So we had some YSAs come and take care of the puppy for us. She was cute! 

Saturday we did Splits as Mette and I ran out and put up swedish class flyers  and My companions stayed at the center for some teaches that fell through. It was freezing and it hurt to be out for a long time. So we came back and defrosted a bit before our teach with Ehsan. We watched 17 miracles with him and committed him to test his faith and put school first. Even and especially on Sunday. The spirit was so strong, we all testified and he could feel it. The Andersons then picked us up to take us to our member dinner with the Mattsson family. They had 9 missionaries over including the Andersons. And Boy would you guys be proud of me! I ate so many things that I didnt like! We sat down at the table to a shrimp pickle like salad. I ate it! It took everything I had not to lose it. But I kept it! Drank like three glasses of water with it but it stayed down. The rest of the meal was nice! As we were inbetween courses we sat on the couch and a little ways off there was a TV on with Utah vs Georgia Tech on. It was ridiculous how much of a temptation that created for all of us missionaries. The head of the house noticing the tempation told us it was part of the party and invited us to go watch. It was awesome! We got to watch half the game before going home to celebrate on our own at home. The Fireworks were crazy! It sounded like a battlefield. I was super tired. I contemplated doing as Dad does and waking up just a bit before midnight. But the fireworks were too much. 

Sunday was different that's for sure. We were late to church. Made it in as they were welcoming everyone. It was only an hour and a half long and we had people talk of the ward mission plan. Its really a great plan, comprising of 3 steps. We are focusing on it this year. 1) Choose Happiness- in all you do remember its your choice 2) Serve Others- no matter where you are there is someone else that needs help choose to be the one who helps. 3) Go to the Temple- visit the temple regularly and often. We stayed around as we tried to figure out a middag situation. We ended up going home and eating cleaning a bit, shinning shoes and Syster Jenson taught me the Rubix cube. I'm working on mastering it still. I still haven't solved in on my own yet. We then had a dinner with the elders at the center because they didn't have time to go home and get all their things done. So we all cooked together.

This weeks challenge came about while travelling to the center on the spårvagn this morning. As I was contemplating what I would write to everyone, I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the gift of remembering. Every day I am able to remember certain things that have helped me develop better then I have ever been before. I call them Faith Builders. If you can just think back on your life, think about the different situation that you have been in when you have felt the spirit work through you, comfort you, or help you in any way. I know that the task seems daunting at first. It was that way for me as well. I have felt a new resolve to do better at following the Spirit as I have reflected on the ways it has already influenced me. Im reminded of a quote from Preach My Gospel by Elder Richard G. Scott, "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. This practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light." So my challenge for you today is to start a faith builder journal. Contemplate, and write those down. I know that there is power in the written word and even more power in written testimony. As you do this I know that Heavenly Father will bless you and you will be comforted in all that you do.

Thank you all for everything that you do for me. You guys rock!
Love Syster Juker

God Yul och Gott Nytt Ar

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: 2011/12/26
Subject: God Jul och Gött Nytt År


Nära och Kära

Oh the joys that Christmas Brings! This week has been absolutely out of this world! We have had so many different experiences in which the Lord has blessed us and the people we are around! I am so thankful for this season and for the opportunity I have to be a representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I dont think I quite understood what that meant as I accepted the call to serve. Its an amazing responsibility that presses on my mind daily. Its the same commitment that each person who is baptized in His name will do. Its Hard to comprehend all of the different facets that this could entail. I dont know I realized that doing the right thing is living with Christ in our hearts and doing as He would have us do. Its us keeping our part of our commitment. I think we can all work on more fully living up to the promise we have made. I know I certainly can. 

Last Monday we went shopping to find some holiday decorations. They have these little bearded santa gnome, its super cute! I got one to come home! We had a lesson with Tony during FHE and talked about following the prophet. He still is hard to understand sometimes but the lesson went well!

Tuesday we had a great adventure. We planned on visiting less actives and things before a teach. We had some time to prepare stuff. I think I told you this story on the phone call. But long story short my companions and District leaders suprised me with Mette and Maria surprised me with a cake that the elders had decorated. Ill attach a picture of it. We then had to do splits so that we could do two things at once. Mette and I stayed at the center as everyone else went to have FHE at a members house. We taught utbys investigator Jonas. It was about the plan of salvation. In the middle we had a ring on the phone and Tony showed up. He wanted to be taught. So we taught him too. He was able to testify to Jonas in Portuguese as I and Mette taught him in Swedish again the plan of salvation. it was awesome 

Wednesday we had a bunch of Christmas gifts to deliver to people before our dinner with the Anstensen Family. They are an awesome family. We also visited Erik in the Hospital to see how he was doing. Hes doing better and has the best attitude ever still 

Thursday we did a service project at the Malm's house. Family was coming and they have been remodeling so we all did a bunch of different things. We stayed for a couple hours and Syster Sprague and I put up this weird drywall stuff on a wall. Its pretty cool. We then headed to the center to teach Li. He lives in Utby and will be baptized in January! He is golden! He cried as he said the opening prayer and let us know what was going on in his life. We met with Ehsan and Khalil was able to bear testimony to him in persian of how he gained his testimony. He was baptized a few weeks ago. It was super fun and the spirit was strong. Then Marie-Louis had us over so that we could learn more about Lucia. It was interesting. As we were there, (she lives in a building on the 12 floor) we were looking out the window and saw fireworks going off. It was literally in the front yard of the building next to ours. it was fun to see the stuff left over. 

Friday we had a great Zone Conference. My favorite part was as Syster Newell Talked about the true meaning of being charitable. You have to be charitable to yourself and others! We can know who we are from our imperfections just as we can recognize an orange by its unique qualities. As we walked in all the elders joked about the huge box that had my name on it. I thought they were joking until I walked into the dining room. It was pretty funny. We took a break before lunch and went caroling. It was really cool to sing the carols in swedish on the streets and have people stop and listen a little while of us. After Conference we stopped by and suprised Erik as he is obviously spending Christmas in the hospital. He was sleeping so we surprised him and then left. He called us back after realizing he had missed our phone call. We sang some christmas carols to him to help him feel the spirit. It was a fun experience. We got to see Sophia in a concert outside in the rain as her choir sang in the form of a christmas tree. its super cool!

Saturday We ate so much food. Here they celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve. So we had a lunch with Martziah. She fed us the multiple course meal and then we went to the Sahlins where we got to hang out and play around. This is where the story from the dice came about. We watched despicable me and got home late in time to open my pajamas and get it bed to sleep.

Sunday! We opened gifts and went to church to have a great hour and a half worth of a musical sacrament meeting. The spirit was strong and Ehsan was able to attend. We then made our way to the Pettersons to eat dinner and have our phone calls home. It was difficult at times talking to everyone because their children were running around but it was absolutely wonderful to hear everyones voice! You guys rock!

Challenge time! From the Book that I got for Christmas entitled "Created for Greater Things" by Jeffrey R. Holland " We should honor the Savior's declaration to "be of good cheer." "Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other!" How often throughout the day do we let one bad thing ruin the day? We focus on the negative and how things should have been instead of being thankful for how they are working out. I am so thankful for this commandment. No matter what happens in life we have the choice to react as we would like to. We are admonished to be of good cheer. That is what I hope we would all do. I am so thankful that I can choose to be happy when things dont go exactly as planned. It makes the moods we are in more in our own control. I hope that we can please apply this more in our lives daily. Take the bad and choose to be of good cheer. No matter what happens it is all our choice!

I love you all and am super thankful for all of the things that you have done! I hope you all have a great new year! 

Love

Syster Juker

Christmas!

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 3:51 AM
Subject: Christmas!


Nära och Kära (Near and Dear)

This week has been one long adventure! Its been awesome! 

I måndags (Monday) we went on a search for onesies! Not the baby kind! But the kind we can wear. We ended up finding some in the kids section that we all liked well and we bought them. They are an awesome pattern! Just look at the picture! We had an awesome FHE lesson of Äldste Nelson and Nelson. (yes, they are both nelson) one is my district leader and the other my zone leader. Can you say confusing when they are both around and I have a question? Because I sure can! It was an object lesson with corn starch and water. He compared it with keeping a testimony. Try it out and try to keep it in your hands, its difficult but possible if you work at it. 

I tisdags (Tuesday) we celebrated Lucia day! Lucia is the bringer of the light before Christmas. It evidently used to be Christ who brought the light but the swedes took an idea from the Italians and stole Lucia. Not entirely sure how I feel about it but the celebrations were cool. They have a Lucia tåg. You could probably google it and make more sense of it then what I know at this point. We went with a member to a childs performance of one at Svenska Kyrkan then to a high school performance with the YSAs later that night because a few were participating in it. We heard some news of a friend we are working with got in a really bad accident and being in a coma so we got some notes written to him from everyone and got them ready to go to the hospital. 

I onsdags (Wednesday) we switched our district meeting to today because we celebrated a new members birthday on thursday for lunch. We had time to visit Erik in the Hospital. He woke up and wanted a priesthood blessing so the elders went and shortly thereafter we were able to go and visit him. He has an awesome attitude despite how the healing process seems to be going. We had a member dinner and I got to make faces at their one year old baby to make him laugh. It was super fun. We then taught our investigator Tony. He is so funny. He cant really express himself so well in swedish so its a little bit like charades when he has a story to tell. Its super enjoyable. He is on his way to baptism in januari!

I torsdags (Thursday) this day we stressed ourselves on planning perfectly and having backup plans, the whole shebang! It slowly went down the tubes! We did have a wonderful lunch with Rajesh to celebrate his birthday. He is a recent convert and has a heart of gold. He comes from India and the tradition there is that the birthday person takes everyone out for their birthday. So he chose to take the five of us to an indian restaurant. It was super fun and really good. I wasnt really sure what I ordered but it was good and spicey! I really enjoyed it. This whole mission thing is doing a number on my pickiness. Though I still stay away from anything Kebab related. After lunch our lesson cancelled and Rajesh offered to take us to his lab. He is working on cancer research at the hospital. I really wanted to go, (im a geek still, even as a missionary) We got to see what seemed like a CSI lab with DNA analysis equipment and everything. We saw cancer cells under a microscope, even the mice they are testing things on. That was the sad part I didnt like too much. All the science stuff was super cool. He got to share with us his passion and you could see it on his face how happy it made him that we were able to take the time to see his stuff. We had a member dinner and a member goodbye to get to afterwards. But plans changed and we went and did the service and goodbye first. We got to see the Holdaway family off to the states. We helped them move some wood to their back porch and then got a ride to our dinner. Then the Malms were sick and gave us food to take to the church to reheat. We did that and was able to talk with our Young women there for a while. Before going home and preparing our dresses for the temple because we wouldnt have time on friday. 

I fredags (Friday) we did our weekly planning first thing after studies which was a really long time to stay at home in the morning. We had a lunch at 2 with a member so we were starving by then. The family is super sweet. The Lundquists, he used to be an athiest and she is from denmark. They are awesome. We then visited Kiersten our less active who I love! She wants to get involved in missionary work. She cant read because of her diabetes so she asked us to leave a MB (BOM) on her table so she can bring it up in conversation when they come around. We then had an activity at the center known as the Julbord which is pretty much the same Christmas food from our ward party but this time it was at the center with all the YSAs. It was a lot of fun. The Christmas season just brings out the best in people. We knew we had to get to bed at a decent hour but it just didnt happen. 

I lördags (Saturday) we woke up at 5:30 am to be on the train super early! On the train ride there we sat next to a door on the train that had to be opened manually because it was broken. There was a sticker on the door with instructions in English Danish and swedish and a diagram illustrating how to open the door. People would read the first like and then turn around and walk away. It was really funny to see people who, at the first sign of trouble give up and turn around. We laughed as so many people did it. Just now I thought of it sort of like the gospel. When we face something uncertain its difficult to see what to do. Sometimes we want to just leave and stay unnoticed when it is always worth it to keep enduring until the end. There were people who would get off the train where they got on and walk off to another train door. Really silly thought! We got off the train, booked it to the bus, and made it to the bus stop to see where we needed to go. I had never been there before so it was pretty funny to see everyone go in different directions. We walked around asking people if they knew where a church is with a golden man on top. It was a pretty funny situation. We felt like tourists because we couldn't speak the language so we spoke english. We got to the temple in just the right amount of time. I absolutely love the temple. I am so thankful for the peace and comfort you can have just by walking in through the doors. The temple is beautiful and I really learned a lot this time. The session was in swedish and I actually understood it all pretty well. It was awesome. We got to go to the church with the original Christus statue in it with all of the apostles around. Its super cool! Ill send a few pictures

I söndags (Sunday) we had a great church experience with an investigator of Utbys as we taught a lesson second hour unexpectedly. We had a member dinner and it went really well as we made a list of things we were thankful for under 5 categories. It was cool. We then got the opportunity to visit Erik again. He moved hospitals and so we had to go by car to make it there in time. He is incredible. We found out that one of his feet the bones are like powder and he is still cracking jokes. He has a bunch of different metal plates and things sticking out of him but he is all cheers and laughs. He is incredible. We went home and finished our studies before going to bed. 

Challenge time! We had a super cool spiritual thought in our FHE as a zone last night on the phone. Its kind of weird  but I like the experience. So this time of year there is a special spirit and no one can really mistake that. January  is just as cold but December has a spirit like Heavenly Father has blessed it and hallowed it. Think of Christmases past and all of the feeling you feel as the person you worked the hardest on for finding the perfect gift opens it and is so happy. As you sit around the table eating Christmas dinner together. All the different emotions. Now read 3 Nephi 1:13-14. He is the greatest gift and it is our sacred opportunity to celebrate Him and His sacrifice for us. I am so thankful this time around for the reason of the season. I know that Christ is the Savior of the world! That he is the only one that we are able to overcome ourselves and be purified enough to return to our Heavenly Fathers presence. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have been  given to have grown up with this knowledge. I hope that we can all learn something more of Christ this Christmas and remember the reason for the season! Ill hear from you on sunday! Be good and have some questions ready for me! I love you all! 

Love 

Syster Juker