PUSH!

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 2:51 AM
Subject: PUSH!

Nära och Kära!

Oj då! Time goes way too fast these days! Its hard to imagine that Steven is home and I've got less than two months left! But I try to not talk about that seeing as I am in denial of that fact. Everyone asks how much time you have left and I have confinced myself that I've got more than I really do so it's good to go! We are working hard and trying to get some baptisms before our time together is up. 

Last Monday we were pretty much bums. We stuck around the apartment until time to write home. It felt good to be a bit lazy for a day. We ended up helping Amber with some things before heading home. It was a pretty chill pday.

I tisdag was a majorly long day but it worked out alright. In nightly planning we had decided to do some service outside of our church building. There is always moss balls and tons of weeds on the sidewalk. So we decided that in the morning while it was still cool to go and get the building looking better. It was pretty awesome how great it felt to serve. Many people walked passed and thanked us for the work we were doing and told us how great it was looking. It was just a random idea that we followed through with and it turned out to be a good thing for others than just the members of the church. As we were there someone came from Örebro with new artwork for our building. That was cool to see, he walked passed us at first and then came and began talking with us. We were unsure who he was. We had a nice conversation and he talked about the church a little but it seemed hesitant so we thought it was someone from the Rehabilitation center next door. Turns out though he wasn't! We felt foolish but it worked out alright. 

We were than able to go out to Flen and visit an old investigator that we have been trying to contact. Now Flen is a little ways off from Katrineholm, but we had some members we hadn't visited in a while so we decided the trip was worth it. As Syster Spjut showed the way to his apartment building we noticed about 5 or 6 Polis cars and an abulance. As we approached the corner it was taped off and all the polis officials were on the other side of the street eating ice cream. We were a bit confused as to what was going on. A group of people gathered as we tried to determine what to do because our investiagators building was blocked off. Katrina (a random lady on the street) came up to us and started talking with us. She lived nearby and new what the situation was. There was a man on top of a building 3 stories up threatening to jump. So the polis closed off the main thoroughfare through town to protect the people if he would jump. She could hear an accent but thought we were from England! So I have changed my accent a little bit!!! Anyway as we were talking with her we were able to talk to her about the gospel a bunch and get her input on things. She didnt necissarily aggree with us but she appreciated what we are doing as missionaries in Sweden. She was very nice. When we began speaking with her she called our attention to the man as he stood up on the buildings roof. Syster Spjut and I had a hard time not watching but as soon as he started moving we hid him from our faces by stepping behind so a building hid him from our view. As he moved around he took of his jacket and threw it down. (He had been on the roof since 9 am and it was close to 6 pm) The polis was able to calm him down and his friends were able to translate for the Polis. He was from Russia and was having a hard time. They were able to get him off the building. We met many people there as the street was opened up again. Many people noticed our tags and asked us about different things. It was not so much of surprise that his building was portcoded and he wasn't answering his phone. But it seemed to us that we were there to help talk to those people who were around during the event. There was a pizza shop owner who came out and began chatting with us, he evidently knew of the man so we talked with him a bit and he found out we were from America and he invited us to come back another day and have pizza at his shop because he has lots of respect for Americans. He was very kind. We then went and visited Majvor. She's an elderly lady with tons of spunk in our branch. We hadn't visited her in a long while so we decided to stop by. She has a hard time walking and had been out grocery shopping. She had to go the long way around because of what she thought was "an accident". As we explained the situation to her she sort of chuckled and said, "He should have jumped earlier! I hurt now!" It was pretty funny. We insisted on next time she needs to go shopping tell us in advance and we can plan a day in Flen so we can help her out. She was very grateful for the invitation. We were able to run to our new ward mission leaders house and pick up Syster Spjuts jacket. It was a little weird being there for like 3 minutes and then had to run to the station. We met a few people on the way back to town and got planning done for splits with Nörrköping!

I onsdags Some days I dont understand why we do nightly planning when somedays it doesn't matter how much you plan everything cancels! We were able to finally serve Cat. She had a room that was just destroyed with trash but seeing as she has difficulties moving she couldnt clean it up herself. So we had talked about helping her (Syster Spjut and I) so when our day canceled we decided to see if it was possible to help her out. She accepted graciously and we were able to get the room back in order. IT felt great to accomplish some service for someone who really wanted it but wouldnt necissarily ask for it. We got together things for our activity that night. It was a girls night. We had Rosemery and Angelina show up first and then Rahel Myriam and Pauline. We were able to paint nails and do hair and talk about what real beauty truly entails. (Moroni 10:31) It was great to help each person individually. We were able to spiritually uplift everyone individually as we did eachothers hair and nails. Sure it wasnt really "my thing" Id much rather be out playin sports but it worked well and everyone really enjoyed themselves. 

I torsdags I had the opportunity to teach district meeting. Seeing as I am the eldest missionary in our district they left it open to whatever I have learned to be most important on my mission. After a bunch of studying and prayer it boiled down to Relying on the Spirit in Unity. I was super nervous but it all went well. We role played a planning session according to the concerns we brought up about our progressing investigators began with a prayer and saught inspiration about how we could help them overcome their concerns. We came up with a pretty great lesson for Alex about the 2 thousand strippling warriors and how our branch is the support system just like each of those young men were for each other.

I fredags I sort of had a "midlife crisis" as Syster DeTinne-Cassel had said something about us coming close to the ends of our missions. I am working hard and I don't want to have to think about school and life after the mission yet. I've still got my head and heart in the game so it was a little tense there but we talked it out and now we are good. We visited the Palaminos again! They are a great family! We really want to get them back! We talked about the Liahona with them and asked them to do better in one subject that they are lacking in of the primary answers of church, scripture reading and prayers. They have been praying and reading so hopefully they can become more engaged in coming to church. 

I lordags we were out visiting a bunch of old investigators from our area book and a few less active members. We visited Björn and they were very accepting to us and wanted us to come back and teach them next weekend! We were jazzed then we went to visit Uylva. She is a less active who has had a difficult life. We are pretty sure she thought we were hem tjänst to help her around her house. We talked with her about the Book of Mormon and she talked about how she has one and reads it. We helped make her hotdogs and took out her trash. She told us how she has had 10 tumors removed from her brain and then asked us, "Why do you speak so badly in swedish?" It was a little frustrating because we had been speaking swedish most of the day but we understood the context so we will work harder on it. Amber was preparing her first talk in swedish and asked if we could help her with pronounciation. We took some time to go and help her. It was a great use of language study! We then had a dinner with Cat and her two sons John (non member) and Jock (less active) they really have all began to like this whole feed the missionaries once a month all together as a family. Its been great to be with them and share a bit more spirituallity with the boys. We were then invited by Leif and Rosmery to come and have sweet beans at their house. We love it when the investigators want to involve us in their real everyday life. I don't like beans at all! (as you all well know) But I promised her I would eat them for her. They were not all that bad because they were cooked in some serious sweetness. But my stomach didn't like it at all afterwards. 

Igår it seems to never fail that someone cannot teach or do their calling so they call or text us! Its usually after our studies too. So today I took sunday school and once at church Syster Spjut took Young Womens. In class we talked a lot about being the example for our kids and those around us. Someone has to set the example why can't it be us! We were able to give Cat a gift from a member in the branch and tell her she was missed at church. (she was sick) then we spent the evening with dinner and a great spiritual lesson with Leif and Rosmery. Leif said that he is 110% behind any decision that Rosmery makes with her faith and being baptised. Her only concern is not being perfect. We decided as we had turned out the lights last night that it was a good plan to talk next time about the Savior. Leif really opened up and let us in. It was really awesome. He says that it's difficult when the missionaries always come and go to open up so much and then have someone move. He really has enjoyed having missionaries in their home. He considers us a part of his family. He even fixed our bikes so now they are 100 times better than they were. My chain always fell off and our seats were too low but we were enduring. Until he asked if he could help us out. I feel like we are really making progress with them. 

PUSH- It means Pray Until Something Happens. While Syster Hill was with me on splits we shared some insights during companion study and it really struck me again how important prayer is. Even if the answer doesnt come immediately it always comes. So all we can do and should do is PUSH. Pray until something happens and we are guaranteedly doing what needs to be done. So this weeks challenge is to do just that! Pray everyday and try to see what really is happening!
Love you all! Hope you guys have a great week!