Overcoming Challenges

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 4:09 AM
Subject: Overcoming Challenges

Nära och Kära,

This week has been unlike any other week of my mission. Many wonderful things and many difficulties, sounds just like life right? At least that's what I hear. Take a second and think about your life, how many miracles do you have faith to see? How many difficulties can you feel on your back? Remember who is always there to help you through them both and also "and it came to pass" every moment passes, cherish and learn from every second. Im putting it into practice here in Jönköping!

Måndag-an easy going day of letter writing and cleaning. Ending with some Language study with a member who is an awesome teacher preparing to serve a mission! Then we attended the Unga Vuxna (YSA) Family Home Evening, They asked us to do the Spiritual thought. It went well and we were able to befriend them so they dont think we are so weird and different from them. We are working on gaining their trust so they can believe in our words. Just like Ammon and the servants of the king in the instance of the Sheep. (Alma 17)

Tisdag- We had a chance to finally do some weekly planning in the morning. It felt weird to be in the week we were planning for. We felt a whole lot better about our week afterwards though. We were able to meet with Pär our less active member who knows he is missing something from his life. He is a great example despite his situation. He is committed to coming to church every other week because its difficult at home if he were to go each week. We thought it was a great place to start. He is sincere and wants to change, I love people like that! We then created a center report from on the computer, just like the one we made in Göteborg to report to the missionary couples about the work that is accomplished in the center with the YSAs and everything. We were able to meet with Sabrina and talk more about the Book of Mormon and began reading with her. She is really searching, may not be aware of it right now but she asks the best questions and we just want to help her understand everything! The most interesting lesson on tuesday was with Amin, he is a university teacher and very inteligent. We knew this before meeting with him so we thought about using a scientific method take on Moronis Challenge. He took control of the lesson but once we had a chance to talk we could feel the spirit as we talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Its awesome how powerful that story is! He committed himself to reading the book and praying. He gave the closing prayer and it was great. We will see if he will put the science on pause to let faith grow. We had a member present and he helped explain things when Amin didnt understand. It was awesome. I am so thankful for members who are willing to come and teach with us.

Onsdag-Plans we had planned changed before we even finished studying in the morning but it was all for the best! We met with Albert, who is awesome! We talked about the Non-Smoking Program and how he can overcome the addiction using those 15 steps. At first he was reluctant and talked about how he had tried to stop before but had never been able to do it. We shared with him the steps and how faith plays a major part. By the end of it he was excited and looking forward to it all working out well. He really is willing to change everything to be a disciple of Christ. Syster Rasmussen wanted to visit a less active family who live on an island nearby but Äldste Rasmussen was sick, she decided to see if we could do it. Our plans worked perfectly and we were able to be with her. We had a little 15 minute drive to the ferry and we were late, so we ran from the parking lot to the ferry and barely made it. It felt super weird, but weirdly at home, to be on the water. Syster Schneiber and I took pictures out on the deck as many people were in their cars just doing the normal travel thing. We were excited and taking pictures. We found our members in their car and got in to get to know them. It felt super weird and more car sickly to be in a car on a boat. The stablilizers on the car vs the waves of the boat just made me sick. We got to know them a bit and then got to go to their house, see their garden they have in the summer time. We talked a lot and invited them to church. They said that if we made a transporter they would be there. We joked around about working on one. We plan on having a member invite them over for dinner after church. So they have incentive to come. We were keeping track of the time and then all of a sudden it was time to go. We left sprinting to the car to get back to the ferry. But we made it! We talked to some ladies about crocheting and then we realized we had stopped (the boat) we were on the dock, new cars loaded on and they were going to raise the ramp as we came out of the passenger rooms. It was really funny. We made it back to Jönköping and had enough time to update our area book and get the records updated.

Torsdag-We had an awesome lesson with Jamie, we talked to him about the Restoration but he just had so many things on his mind he needed to talk. We listened a while and then told him we couldnt really help with problems because we haven't ever been married but we do have a Bishop who you could talk to. He agreed and we thought about teaching him about priesthood blessings. As the thought came to my mind Syster Schneiber was speaking but we tied them right together and he was able to recieve a comfort blessing before our district meeting. The District meeting went really well as we ate at the Italien and Greek restuarant and had a discussion and role play about listening and asking questions. We really realized how easy it is to make a zero lesson sound like an interview. We got to role play and get better. It was great. We then had our coorilation (spelling??) meeting with our ward mission leader. He is great! Not only does he listen and congradulates us when things are going well but he also has great ideas and is willing to help in all aspects of the work. He is an amazing strength to our work here in Jönköping! We had dinner with the YSA and they were super nice. We met with Johannes and talked about Christs Atonement. He had been thinking a lot about Christ since being in the hospital. He works a lot and is stressed so it was great to talk with him with a member who seems to really connect with him. We think that we can strengthen both of them as they strengthen each other. Its great!

Fredag- We got to do some service at the Wiklöfs house. She is an amazing woman! We helped clean after eating lunch with her. We planned a surprise for her, so as she was out of the room we hung up inspirational scriptures and quotes to help her remember the strength that Heavenly Father has given her. She saw one and thanked us. We gave her a hand massage as she shared experiences from her mission in Chili with her husband. We did some greatly inspired weekly planning! It was great, it seemed this week that was the most difficult time of the day for us. We are working hard at working in unity and its tough but its worth the challenge. We got some planning and focus done for our goals with working with the YSA and we feel pumped to get to work with them all. We then had another great lesson with Sabrina. We shared the Restoration with her and Caroline was there to testify on how she figured it out. The Spirit was great as we shared personal experiences and as she prayed to know if God is there. She is awesome! We invited her to be baptised when she knew it was true. She felt a bit taken back because she hasnt learned so muchy yet. But she agreed that she would do what is expected of her if she finds these things to be true. I was able to talk to Caroline a second and she shared that just being with us on lessons has strengthened her testimony and got her back in the groove of sharing her testimony. The work with the YSA does work! We just have to invite them to lessons where the Spirit can touch their lives! We had a member dinner with the Strömberg family and they were great. We helped take down some Christmas curtains and helped with dinner. We talked about goals and made some for when their daughter graduates from High School. Just like the ones I have from 6th grade. It is cool but now I have the responsiblity of keeping in touch and mailing them to them in 6ish years.

Lördag- We finished our weekly planning and did studies and I was super sick. It was really not all that fun. I was in pain and wasn't really sure what to do. Luckily Syster Schneiber is super caring and wanted to just take care of me. We did a lot of work from home, from the area book and calling people as I was in and out all day. We got this next week planned with tons of stuff to do and it does feel great. The Rasmussen's were out of town but we asked for a blessing and got one on Söndag.

Söndag- After studies we headed to the church and I talked with so many people it was great. I think something switched in my head, that it really doesnt matter that I can't speak perfectly with the members. They are my safe zone of sorts. As I am more willing to talk and mess up with them I wont make silly mistakes as we talk to people out on the streets and on the busses. In Relief Society we had a great lesson on Christ and his attributes. In Sunday School we were able to be in the YSA class because our investigator didnt show up. We learned a new perspective on the Tree of Life. If you read it in 1 Nephi 8 and 11. Compare the tree to Jesus Christ, the fruit to the Atonement, the rod to the scriptures and the word of God, and Lehi as a Prophet not just a father. IT takes on a whole new perspective. Especially with the different groups of people mentioned in the dream. Thats CHALLENGE TIME! Read and apply different interpretations of the tree of life. I know that as we try to apply what we learn and live after that knowledge that we are blessed for our efforts and that Heavenly Father is happy when we study and apply those sacred records that He has prepared for us in this day and age. Its pretty incredible that records from so long ago can be applied in our every day life to make them all better. I am so thankful for the scriptures and the opportunities I have had to get to know them more personally since I have been on my mission. What are two things that we need to be able to partake of that fruit? just a question to direct your thoughts. We had another meal with the Robayo family and it was great. They are so kind and worry about us. They all enjoy cooking so we always eat well when we visit them. We then went and visited some less actives that members of the ward have asked us about. Äldste Rasmussen then returned back and we were able to get blessings from him. Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need and we just have to be able to listen and be humble enough to do what He asks of us.

Today we have done what we did last week and it seems that that is the trend. We will see what happens here today. I love to hear from anyone and everyone who reads this. Just know that I will respond in letter to your email. You all are great examples to me in the great Love that God has for each of us individually as you search for ways to serve each other. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Talk to you all again soon!

With Love and Hugs,

Syster Juker