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 Feb 20 (6 days ago) |
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Nära och Kära
This week has been one
for the books! Its been a crazy amount of ups and downs and all arounds. Any
place you can name, emotionally that is, we have been there this week! But the
best thing is that we survived it and witnessed many miracles because of diligence
and faith despite difficulties.
I måndags we "tog
det lungt"! We did some letter writing at the appartment. As I was writing
our phone rang, but we couldnt find it. We searched, but by the time we found
it, of course the answering machine got it. It was Sabrina, our investigator. I
immediately tried to call her back. She was leaving a message. I waited and
then listened to the message. It was absolutely nothing. My thoughts went to
she probably dialed us from her pocket and didnt notice, but my heart said call
her back. So I did! She was very discouraged and you could hear it in her
voice. She told us about the difficult day she had had and how she felt like a
failure. It was difficult to hear but I just tried to lift her up and be
positive. She didnt know who else to call, so she called us but felt silly
about it so couldnt leave a message. We invited her to the YSA FHE and she
accepted. We invited some of the YSA to take care of her and make her feel
welcome. They were awesome and she really felt at home. They played games and
she was right with them playing it was awesome!
I tisdags we visited a
Christian American lady named Ruth! She is very strong in her faith but loves
talking with the missionary and inviting them over to her house! She showed us
around her apartment and described that she was having a difficulty with her
computer going into sleep mode when she needed it to be on. We talked a bit
about it. Syster Schneiber said "If I could I would." I thought I
probably could, but only if its in english. I told her I could try, luckily it
was english. I resolved the issue and she was very grateful. She has a problem
in her joints so we did some service with her and cleaned out some cupboards.
She shared her experiences with faith and a lot about her life. She is an
awesome lady of faith! We talked a little bit about our faith, she remembers a
young man who she dated when she was younger who was a member. So she has only
good things to say about the church. We are going to go back and help some more
and give her a Book of Mormon to try our for size. We then did some more
service and helped Hannah a member in our ward paint some chairs for her new
house. She is getting married this next week so we talked about goals and
making goals with her husband for the next 6 years so that they work together
towards the same goals. She said it was a great idea and that shed like to do
it. We got the chance then to teach a zero lesson to a member and practice.
Since Syster Schneiber and I are still figuring the best way to work with
eachother it was great. We got to know her more and how we can help eachother
better. Also a few ideas on how we can help members in our ward. Then was a
little trip to visit a less active that our bishop thought would be interested.
He had difficulty remembering what age he got baptized in. He seemed a bit set
in his ways, as he offered us beer and then remembered that we don't do that.
It was funny. His wife and daughter were really nice and seemed more interested
then he was at the moment. He lives by a member so we might do some splits and
try and create a friendship there.
I onsdags we had lunch
with Annalisa, our member who doesnt know english. She is awesome! She had
Bergit there too so we got to know each of them better. Bergit writes in to the
newspaper and bears her testimony on opinion papers who stand for the same
things that the church does. She is a woman of great faith as well. She gave us
a referall of a man who wrote in about familys and the importance of them. We
then got on a bus to do some service at Melanies house. We were able to get
some stuff organized and in storage for her. We got off at the wrong stop and
had to back track a ways, then up a super steep hill, all the while having to
use the restroom. It was one of those few occassions where you remember why
everyone said to take part in every bathroom opportunity as a missionary. We
had a lesson with Amin, it was incredibly difficult. We wanted to begin with a
prayer and he plead with us not to. Im not sure why we didnt do it but we
didnt, we were trying to be courtieous to his wishes. The plan was to just
teach the first point of the Restoration. "God is our Loving Heavenly
Father". We had a few scriptures and we began to share them with him when
his science mind took over about atoms and tiny particles. It was difficult to
feel the Spirit in that lesson. Afterwards we felt drained and that he needs to
want to test it, not to prove it. Then there was a 180 degree flip in our day
as we had a lesson with Sabrina. We had Jennifer come too. We taught the Plan
of Salvation and the Spirit was really strong. Sabrina recognized that she felt
comforted and that it felt good to hear about the message of the Plan of
Salvation. We explained what that was and she really wants to learn more about
how she will know what she needs to do to keep the feeling around.
I torsdags we had
district meeting and I was asked to teach. I taught on Teaching in Unity and
Relying on the Spirit. If you think of it, they are the same. We are teaching
in Unity with the Spirit if we are really working on doing things right. I was
able to learn a lot while preparing and the Spirit was around to enlighten us.
WE then met with Äldste and Syster Rasmussen and shared a message about
district meeting with them. They were busy getting ready for the YSA activity
for friday. We had a lesson with Johannes where we had Benjamin with. We really
wanted to create a spiritual experience for them. We knew we wanted the focus
to be on the Book of Mormon and how it can help us. We talked about favorite
chapters and about where Johannes is in his journey through it. We planned to
read some together just from where he was, when Benjamin brought up his
favorite part being Alma 32 and the seed, because its simple but complex at the
same time. So Ta-Da the Spirit delivered! It was great, the discussion unfolded
nicely as we talked about nourishing our seed. As we ended we asked Johannes if
he had felt anything as we've been meeting with him regularly. He said yes, but
its not a tree, maybe a strawberry plant! We laughed with excitement as he
recognized that he has felt something!
I fredags we helped
Edith clean her house. Torstan has been getting better! The Spirit and
happiness was certainly a part of their apartment! They are great! As we were
getting ready to leave she came up to us and said that she couldnt do it
without us. Torstan asked me "Did you think that you would be in Sweden
washing old peoples floors on your mission?" I didnt have to even think
when I replied, "det är värför jag är har!" That is why I'm here, to
help those who need help and find those who don't recognize the help that is
readily at hand for them. We had to then check bus times to visit Pauline and
print out something for her. We were able to strengthen Syster Rasmussen in a
second where she was feeling pretty down and then on to catching the bus. We
shared some experiences and were able to share a conference talk about the
Savior with Stephan. We want to help the members get to know him. We then had
the Chinese Night with the YSA. We got there early and Li and Wilson were there
preparing food and Sabrina was there talking with people. It was a great night.
We were really bummed that Albert couldnt come. Sabrina loved it and got to
know everyone well. We had to leave before it was finished, but it was great
and we heard that she stayed till late with the YSA playing wii. She is getting
along well with all of them.
I lördags we had our
meeting with Niklas. It was great! He always gives us great new ideas and ways
to help people. We have been having some issues in doing planning. We have not
quite figured out how to plan in unity. I guess is the best way to say it. We
spent Saturday in a serious planning session and companionship inventory as we
try to figure out what is not working in the planning aspect of our
companionship. We think we got it nailed down to listening. Sometimes it seems
like we don't listen to eachother when we are speaking. So if you could add
that one to your prayers that would be helpful. We made some cookies inbetween
planning in our ward and for the YSA. We didnt have butter so we used apple
sauce and it turned out really well. We hope to one day recreate those. Sabrina
called us later and was worried about going to church for 3 hours. We talked to
her about it and gave her some scriptures to read and she resolved her own
issue and said she would see us there.
Igår we had a wonderful day at church. As Relief Society was going to begin with Sabrina, Äldste Rasmussen came in and asked if we were expecting a man to come to church today. Syster Schneiber was talking, so I went to see who it was. It was Emanuel, our old investigator. We had sent out a reminder to our investigators to read their scriptures and that we hoped to see them at church and he recieved it and showed up to surprise us. He attended priesthood and they talked about the Plan of Salvation and had a lot of questions he wants answered now. So we are going to make time to meet with him. Sabrina enjoyed church and then we had our choir practice so she sat and listened. She really enjoys church music. I want to share with her some of my favorite hymns. We then were invited to a members house for dinner. They invited us with investigators and the Rasmussens. We ended up having 10 people for dinner. It was really fun and spirit filled. The day just got better as we met with the Thörn family and talked about the blessings the gospel has given us. Which leads to your favorite time! Can you guess?
Challenge time! This
weeks challenge is simple but can lead to more if youd like it to. We made a
list of the blessings that we have recieved from the Gospel of Jesus Christ or
from being members in His church. We gave the family 5 minutes to make their
own list and then we compared them. Its amazing all of the blessings that
you have recieved and will recieve as we are faithful. I want to compile a list
so as you do this feel free to send it to me. I think of it as if we were to
make a pro and con list about the blessings we recieve and the things we could
lose by sharing the gospel. One list would be very small. The blessings list is
the one that we are offering to our friends and neighbors as we talk to them
about the gospel. Its great! How can we deny them of those gifts when we are so
thankful for them already. Its cool to think about.
I hope you all have a
great week and that you count those blessings you are blessed with even when
you don't necissarily notice them. They are all around you I promise! Love you
all!
Love,
Syster Juker
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