Life Takes Only Seconds to Change

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 7:16 AM
Subject: Life Takes Only Seconds to Change

Nära och Kära

This week has been simply one for the books! It proved to me that no matter what you plan on, it doesn't always work out that way. From lessons to planning and setting goals everything can change in a matter of minutes. We experienced a lot of that this week. The one thing that we could rely on, besides each other, was our faith and hope in the Savior and His hand in our work! He never leaves us alone and He will never leave any of you alone, of that I am certain!

Last Monday, we took some letter writing time, nap time and package picking up time. We got our orders of Book of Mormons and got to lug them home. It was a fun journey. We met with Leif again and had Swedish study. Its been really cool to get to know the YSA and to uplift them. They really have been opening up. While we were learning from Leif, Markus, our investigator dropped by the church to say hi and let us know that he wasnt going to be able to stay for FHE that night. It was very considerate of him and we got to follow up on his reading. He has been reading and asked his sister some questions! We are excited for him! During FHE we talked about goals and were able to testify about how they help us. We then had an activity of Jennifer and we got to play darts. Alex came and he and Leif ended up being on my team. It was Great! We all opened up and it was a great experience. We are going to work on getting to know more about them and how to help them become active again.

Tuesday, my visa is close to expiring so we were able to take time on tuesday to go to Göteborg and get it renewed. Its taken a lot of time with others whom I have helped do it so we thought it would take a while. It ended up taking less then an hour! We were excited. I talked with Mom about how as a missionary you don't have time to be sick and to sleep extra. On the way home from the Migration office I got hit with a wave of sickness. I think Heavenly Father was trying to teach me a lesson. You have to take care of yourself before taking care of others. I was very uncomfortable on the train but fell asleep in the sun. It was way different from home. I can't do that usually. As we got home to Jönköping, I felt even worse. Syster Schneiber decided that it was best that I have a nap and we could plan after I woke up. I was miserable and slept for a long while. Syster Schneiber was great and got a lot accomplished while I was sleeping. I tried to help but I was just sick. It was really difficult to just relax as a missionary and sleep. We talked about how its difficult for both companions who are together. It was difficult to feel productive but we got appointments set up and I was only super sick for two days. Now Im doing much better!

Thursday it was interesting to get to study and not be sick! I am so thankful that it didnt last too long. We had district meeting and Äldste Rice taught about how the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul. We came up with some questions that we thought our investigators could have and then switched questions and got to look up scriptures from the Book of Mormon to answer them. I was fully aware of the completeness of the Book of Mormon when answering questions but during this meeting my mind was opened up even more! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and has been given to us at this time so that we can have those answers that we all seek. No matter the situation you are in, we can find solace and comfort in that book. I have done it many times before coming to Sweden and that knowledge has only become stronger as I have been able to temper it through many different experiences and questions from various people and some of my own design. The Book of Mormon is the book to read and try if you haven't ever tried a faith before. I love it! We then had dinner with the YSAs before getting to teach Johannes again. We gave him "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. He really liked it and I think it helped him resolve a concern.

Friday We had a lovely weekly planning time! We have joked around about how planning is about the hardest thing for Syster Schneiber and I to do together. Teaching, Finding, and loving are all easily done but when it comes down to planning its like pulling teeth. BUT, not today!! It went practically seemless! We got great ideas going for the upcoming lessons and all the things that we are going to get done! We were both feeling sick and we didnt want to get our members children sick so we cancelled with them and got to eat at home before meeting with Sabrina! We got there a couple minutes before she arrived. She brought a friend! It was a blessing! Heavenly Father knew that we were not doing well healthy wise and we were able to teach him about the Book of Mormon. He wants to meet us again as well! He comes from Ghana and is awesome! Sabrina brought up a concern about spending so much time at church. "Come on Three hours!" Gershon was able to help relieve some of her hesitancy as he told us he spent 5 hours at church every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Thats a lot of church! We are still working on relieving that concern but we know its there.

Saturday We met with our ward mission leader because I was sick on the normal Wednesday time. He brought up things in Ward Counsel on sunday and gave us great ideas about how to help our investigators and those less active members we are working with. It was great to again share our work and have someone care so much about it. We then had a lesson with Li and Wilson our chinese boys! The YSA are going to the temple this next weekend and we are going as well. We wanted to have them come with us. Li  hadnt been ordained yet. So we taught about the temple and priesthood. There were great mormon messages on lds.org that helped get them excited about the Blessings of the temple. They are going to meet with Bishop Wallgren before church and hopefully they will be able to go! We then ate lunch at home and studied language. I had forgotten about transfer calls coming until I was left with the phone because it was difficult to concentrate. We got a great session of language study in before heading to visit less active members. While at the bus stop we started talking with a young girl waiting for the bus. She heard in our accents that we were from the states. She then switched to English with hardly any accent. It was pretty cool. We switched numbers and hopefully we will meet up with her soon. As we rode the bus up to Dalvik President called. I was handed the phone to answer. I didnt expect a call so when he said I will be training my jaw dropped. Syster Schneiber was sitting accross from me and she said that the picture was priceless! I am super excited and nervous and worried all at the same time. I know that I will have to rely on the Lord to do this right. So the Syster Schneiber and Juker journey is coming to an end. Its been a great experience to be able to work on so many characteristics that will bless me for the rest of my life. I have really learned so much from her about myself and about how to be the best me. She is awesome. Now she is heading to Allingsås with Syster Sprague! They are going to rock that place! We were able to stop by a few members houses and an old investigator when Sabrina called us. We were able to meet with her a short while before Syster Schneiber started to feel the same way I was feeling on tuesday. We stopped by a members home to see if we could do anything to help. They said we could walk their dog. It reminded me of Kaiser and she softened lots of people's hearts. Missionaries just need puppies, then Swedes will listen! We were able to stop by a less active YSA as well and she got to talking with Syster Schneiber. It will be great to get to know her better as well.

Sunday Church was great but was best was that both Li and Wilson came early to church and talked to Bishop. Li got the priesthood and they are now going to go to the temple this weekend with the YSA! Äldste and Syster Rasmussen talked about how it was one of their goals and we were able to help them accomplish it! The talks in sacrament meeting reminded me of going back to the basics. There were talks about the Book of Mormon and the importance of reading your scriptures and of developing a testimony of the Prophet. It was great! In Relief Society we talked about the Priesthood! We were excited that Wilson and Li were there in their meeting listening to the same lesson. Sabrina came as well, so we were able to teach her about the priesthood as we translated for her. During Sunday School Niklas taught about the Holy Ghost and Sabrina was able to apply it to a question she has about her life. We then met with the Thörn family! They had us over for dinner and we talked to them about completeing our member program and whats their next goal. They want to have an activity each month where our investigators can come over to their house and play games and get to know them. Its going to be awesome. This program I think will really get the members involved in our work. I look forward to starting it with other members in our ward soon. Then we got to watch the CES broadcast of Quentin L. Cook. (Definitely one to watch over again!)

On Sunday I was able to complete my reading of Jesus the Christ! It is an amazing book! Here comes challenge time! Read it! =) Whoes up for the challenge? I know it will change your life because it has strengthened my testimony so much of the Savior. I didnt recognize that we know so much about Christ. Its not a simple read but its so worth the time. Its taken me 10 months to complete and I have just learned so much from it. Now challenge number two, a little less complicated. Elder Cook said in his fireside to YSA age people that we must not wear a mask but be true to our faith, that we need to spend time on developing Christlike attributes and make goals to continue in righteousness. First off watch the fireside! Its not too long and its great! http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/languages/ces-devotionals/2012/03?lang=eng here you go =) Just making it a little easier! Secondly, make a little time to do a self assessment. Figure out what it means to wear a mask, how you can spend more time in developing attributes of Christ and what goals you can set to be better. I know that as I have tried to do this I have had an eye opener experience to the good things i actually am doing. No matter how low we feel we really aren't doing that badly if we can just have faith and pray for help. Heavenly Father is always listening and like it says over and over again in the Book of Mormon "his arm is outstretched still." We just have to reach up and take it. He wants to help. I know he does! He has helped me so much over and over again!

I hope you all have a great week and that you can add me and my new companion to your prayers. I know how essential prayer is in this life and I know he will answer your prayers too. Please! Love you all Have some fun this week!

Syster Juker