Triple Vistaunet!

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 3:25 AM
Subject: Triple Vistaunet!


Hey Everybody!,

This week has been a bit of craziness! Plans always change, no matter how solid they seem in personal study has no reflection on what actually does occur throughout the day! On Monday we went coat searching! It was a lot of fun! Talitha, Syster Visaunet and I went to some secondhand stores to try to find a winter coat. It was really fun to find all the miscellaneous things that were just so unique! Syster Vistaunet found a great carpet skirt at a shop that I found a gigantic red coat at. They didnt take cards so we had to leave and get cash. It was only 100 krons and I took out 500 because I felt like I needed to. Upon walking back to the shop to purchase our things we noticed a different shop to go to. We found THE PERFECT coat for me! It was 499- the Spirit guides! Its so warm and perfect!

On Tuesday we had lots of plans made and they didn't really go through. We got a phone call to go to a school for their Religion day. They had all these different religions at their school and we got to represent our church. We got there and waited for the Elders to come and get us. As Äldste Smith and Norr came and got us they shared that they had been there for a while and had not stopped speaking Swedish. I froze! I am not skilled in this speaking Swedish all the time. It seemed like walking into a nightmare! I freeze when trying to speak with people of our own ages and younger. I am certainly more willing to talk to those who are younger. But in this situation I had no choice! It was a must to be able to make everything work. We had many missionaries and many students come to talk with us. People would come in, be greeted and then the conversation would go to the tables. Meanwhile other conversations would end and we would wait for more people to come in. Multiple times Syster Vistaunet and I would notice that out of all of the missionaries who have been out longer then us we would be the two set up for greeting. We took on the pressure with ease. It was really an awesome experience to rely completely on the Spirit so that I could answer their questions. I developed a lot more confidence in making mistakes and recovering. 

Wednesday Syster Jenson was sick and Syster Vistaunet and I had a really awesome teach with Paul a man who has no idea who God is or who Jesus Christ is! We were able to develop a relationship with him and let him teach us about him. It was awesome! He is very busy but we hope to be able to talk with him again and teach him more about what gives us all so much happiness! 

Friday we were able to do awesome weekly planning and had an opportunity to do an FHE activity with Rich and Sisla. He is an American and had taped a bunch of 9\11 rememberance things and invited all of the missionaries over to watch it with them. It was interesting to remember all of the emotions and things that were around as that occured. We all remember exactly where we were and what our first thoughts were. I really loved seeing them. 

Saturday is a special day! We made cookies for Elys baptism. During lunch we received the elusive phone call from President Newell, regarding transfers. Our dear Syster Vistaunt is headed to Halmstad! My beloved Halmstad! She is going to do wonders there. It's really sad to have her leave. We all shed some tears but we realize that the Lord knows what he is doing! Elys baptism went without flaw! The water was cold, because we had a child's in our wards baptism before hers. It was super cool to be on the font side of things. Her Brother was able to attend. She thinks he will follow in her footsteps. We had a fika at her house and talked with many of her non member friends who were there and we were home 10 minutes before bedtime! 

Sunday was a funny mistake. We all thought that since it was the weekend after conference we were fasting. All the missionaries fasted. We sat in the chapel preparing for the meeting to start as we realized that there were speakers on the stand. We all chuckled a little to ourselves as we realized all 5 of us missionaries were fasting and no one else was. We all fasted with purpose so it counts, but it was just funny to see the difference between here and the states. Evidently they don't usually fast in the months of General Conference. We thought it was different. Also, we realized that we were only going to be able to wear Syster Vistaunet's clothes for a few more days. So we all got dressed in her clothes and we were a triple Vistuanet! It was awesome!

Challenge time! I actually got this challenge from an experience I had this week. We were trying to figure out a scripture to help one of our investigators on his journey in learning the gospel. We all had differentiating opinions and none of us would budge. It was a terrible situation. I felt really bad about starting the contention. We just had a difference in opinion. We all realized that we were all being stubborn and not humble and acting in the Spirit. Its an interesting situation to reminisce on. We can learn so much by just becoming humble and trying to put others needs before our own. In order to do this I have realized my reliance on sincere prayer. When we are able to sincerely communicate with our Father in Heaven and tell him how we are feeling he is more able to bless us in all that we do. When we forget Him we seem to be forgotten. It is not the case but we are the ones who distance ourselves from Him. I am reminded of the story of Enos and his mighty prayer. My Challenge for you all this week is to take into consideration your sincereity of prayer. Put others needs before your own and live worthy of the Spirits guidence! Can you do it? I know you can Believe in the Lord and Trust in His care and you will be blessed with happiness.

I hope you all have a great week! Love you all!
Syster Juker

General Conference!

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 4:24 AM
Subject: General Conference!

 
Hello everyone! 

This week has been a test of everything! Things falling through, unexpected things, as well as tons of blessings! Its a whole lot like life though if you think about it. No matter where we are in life, no matter how good we think we have it the variables of life take only seconds to change. Its a deep thought. But as a counteractor of sorts I am reminded of a scripture Helaman 5:12. "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." When we go through out our lives there are so many things that get in the way of our relationship that we are trying to develop with God and Christ. We let the "To Do" lists get in the way of what really matters most. The time we spend is precious. We need to make sure that what we spend it on is of eternal consequence and not just for the everyday variable. I know that when we are built on Christ we are not promised that the whirlwind will stop and that all will be perfect and peaceful but that we will be sustained so much that we cannot fall. The hard things dont ever disappear, how would we ever develop spiritual muscles if we took our heavy burdens away. Christ strengthens us when we ask for help. I know that because I have tested it. I have tried to go without His help, do it my way, my version of "alone". When in reality He is always there lifting just as hard as we are. It's miserable to struggle through life by your lonesome. I know that Christ is there We NEED Him even if we aren't willing to admit it to ourselves! Ok random ramblings over =)

We have a baptism in SWEDEN! Well we have lots but one just here in Västra Frölunda! This saturday! We are super excited to get it done and help our sweet investigator grow in her testimony of Christ and God. We also were able to meet with our other baptismal date and create a new date when he will be baptised! That teach was funny. He always refers to the church as "the church of the mormons" we haven't really thought of correcting it much. Then as we were inviting him to come watch general conference we showed him the apostles in the last conference issue he took it and read the churches full name. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and said "Wait?! are the mormons The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?" We explained yes and he shared with us a story of when he was in Ghana and his family gave the church one of their houses. He has been prepared for a long time now. He was able to attend the saturday morning session on saturday night and absolutely loved it. It was so cool to run from the church, literally, to the spårvagn stop to pick him up and  bring him into the chapel to listen to the prophets and apostles! 

General Conference just gets better and better. Did you get to watch it? What was your favorite talk? Mine was definitely, at least so far President Monson's talk on Sunday morning. We haven't watched the afternoon session yet. That's for this Yhursday night with a few investigators. You know you have faith when you can announce the next speaker knowing full well that he is not in the temple. This brings about the challenge time! I love these challenges, don't think that I just dish them out to all of you who read these. They are also things that I am working on as well. =) Anyway, We NEED the Spirit! No matter what we do we can live in a way to recieve the guidence from the Spirit to accomplish what our Father in Heaven would have us do. Since being on my mission I have definitely felt the blessings of having an extra measure of the Spirit when we are all living worthy and willing to follow the promptings. I know that in order to recieve the inspriation of the spirit we must be living worthy of the spirit. Now in a way its sort of a plea to repent and do better. But even more so it is a plea to do better. I know that there are many things that we are "supposed" to be doing so that we can "recieve" blessings. If we are doing those things for that reason thats good but there is a better way. We must be living everyday with Faith and hope knowing that when we stick out our hand to God that He will lift us. So the challenge this week is to do a little better, do some repenting if need be ( i know we all need it) and to smile because God loves you and it is witnessed to you if you but look around and notice the little blessings in each day! 

Thank you all for loves and words of encouragement! I hope that you all have a great week and remember to focus on the good things and Smile because of them! Im praying for you!

Love you
Syster Juker

pictures =) my scripture case! I need a picture of Charity!, a weird crazy misty evening after some conference sessions

Mindre Aktiv

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 8:27 AM
Subject: Mindre Aktiv



Hello Family and Friends!

Another week has been completed here in Västra Frölunda the greatest area ever! I feel super blessed to still be here. We have had so many great and wonderful things happen here. Its awesome! This week ended up having a little focus on less actives. Although we didn't necessarily plan it that way. We had about half of our planned teaches cancel on us this week. It was a bummer but we got a lot of other things done as well. I believe I talked about Mike last week and the awesome teach we had with him as Syster Vistaunet and I committed him to baptism. Well we tried to meet with him this week and his business kept him in Denmark the whole time so we haven't been able to meet with him. We are working on the finishing touches for Elys baptism on the 8th! We are super excited! She is as well! 

We have come across many members who have been less active and we are working with them. I feel like I have a connection with people who are less active, not entirely sure why but its how I feel like I need to work here. We are working with the members to remind people of the importance of keeping their baptismal covenants. So far it is amazing! We have seen and been apart of many miracles and I love it. We just have been able to remind a few of them to read and pray. It's simple through a text message and they show up at church without even having to be reminded that that is where they need to be. My favorite experience this week happened last night as we had been meaning to meet with Kiersten Halmstrand for a while and had to move the appointment because of other member middags. We were able to go over there and just get to know her because Syster Jenson and Syster Vistaunet had never met her before. She has diabetes and its crazy, she can't tell when she needs to take her medicine so it makes things difficult and she can't come to church alone. So we worked it out so that we can give her a ride and I can eat with her when she needs to so she doesn't feel so out of place. Its going to be awesome. We shook on it and then we realized that this week is General Conference! A little bit of a different situation. We get to watch the Relief Society Session on Saturday night and then the Saturday morning session after that. Then on Sunday we watch the Saturday even session and the Sunday morning session. And for a Pday in the future we will watch the Sunday afternoon session! I was so excited when I heard the news that we are able to watch all of the general conference sessions. We are inviting all of our investigators to come and listen to the Profets voice! Its going to be an amazing experience! 

Make sure that you invite all of your friends and do all you can to go/listen to conference with questions in mind. I have a strong testimony about that. While I was in the MTC Brother Harris asked us to come up with questions about whatever you have questions about and pray for answers. When I was there I had about 6 questions and all were answered in one way or another. The Spirit is real and when we listen and obey we have success and feel the feelings our Father in Heaven would have us feel. 

So I just got back from our Pday activity we went to a castle and it was pretty awesome. As I stood looking out over the water and around at the buildings of the town I got to thinking of all those people who are out there who have no idea why they are here, who they are, and especially what it feels like to be truly happy. The gospel is the only way to have that lasting happiness! There is no other way! We, as members of Christs church have a responsibility to share our testimonies with all those around us. We may not feel that our testimonies are strong enough to change someones heart, or to spark a change. I know that I feel that way in Swedish. It's difficult to speak and sound silly to yourself as you, in broken Swedish, testify of the saving power of the Atonement and that we can feel His sincere happiness as often as we will do what He wants us to do. My challenge for this week is a little on this point. We have an investigator who is near to baptism. We have been looking forward to this date for a long time! Its going to be awesome! There is just a little hiccup regarding our profet. A testimony of Christ's apostle on the earth today is a ground-laying principle to knowing that this is His church! We must have our testimony of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration and as today Thomas S. Monson. They lead God's church through revelation and He is the head. I am so thankful for this message! That God truly is the same yesterday today and forever. We need never worry as to weather the profet leads us properly. He is of God and when we know that we also know what we need to do. I am also so thankful for the opportunity to have General Conference this weekend! Make sure that you all put proper time in front of the TV or listening to the radio so that you can learn and know for yourself that God and Jesus Christ have their apostles again on the earth to lead this, His Church!

I love you all so much and hope you all have a great week and remember who you represent!

Love

Syster Juker

pictures include, the castle adventure, planning in the dark on the side of the road waiting for a bus, and various others. I changed the quality of my pictures so now i cant send as many. Let me know if the change makes a difference =) Love you all!!!

Time is Written on the Window

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 4:42 AM
Subject: Time is Written on the Window

Hello!

Well this week has been a bit of everything! Last Monday we spent it on a boat travelling around to different islands but never getting off on one of them. We were with Sophia and Talitha they are awesome. Syster Jenson was going to teach the FHE lesson for the YSA and we were going to have a teach at the same time at the center. But he went to the chapel instead of the institute so we did some splits and Syster Vistaunet and I went in the pouring cold dark rain to the chapel and taught the restoration. 

On Tuesday we had lots of teaches and a surprise package showed up from my Mom! With my stomach medicine! It made me so happy! We have been rationing the american candy its pretty funny. We still have jelly beans and m and ms =) 

Wednesday we did a lot of little splits where Syster Vistaunet and I taught Mike the Plan of Salvation and committed him to prepare for batism. He is AWESOME! He just is african and comes late or forgets to come often. So we are working with him on that. We had dinner at the Holdaway's and they have given us the opportunity to watch the 9-11 special thing and we have president Newell's permission so we are going to watch that very soon. 

On Thursday we had our district meeting and on the way over to Mosens to eat kebab pizza there was the word time carved in the buses window. I told Syster Vistaunet that "Time is written on the window" Then we all chatted about how it could be a tagline to a movie of some sort and odds are we would all watch it. So you all at home can work on that one =) After District meeting we had service with Sophia McLaughlin- she is AWESOME as well. We helped take like seven layers of wall paper off of her wall and had dinner. It was really fun. We had a teach with Ely too on Thursday and she is lovely! So prepared and willing to follow Christ. She reminds me a lot of Charity. She is super sweet. I'll try to get pictures of these people so that you can picture them =) 

Friday was really cold. We did Zumba with Ely and Paola at their house. It was a lot of fun. I didn't do it because my foot hurt but I think it will be fun to do once at home. If I gain some coordination, I still can't dance for those of you wondering! Saturday Syster Vistuanet and I celebrated our 200th day on our mission. I know its a little random  but I have a system in my journal of titling each day and a few other things. We got some ice cream on the way home to eat. It was delicious. We had a cool lesson with Chuck as well, during another one of our little split things. He doesn't have any idea about Jesus Christ or why we believe in Him but he wants to know more and to attend church. Its a lot of fun to teach him. We asked him what a prophet is to him and he said, "Money?". We explained and he understands now the importance of having a prophet. 

Sunday we had lots to do and we kept busy the whole day. It ended with a great fireside by Elder Dallin H. Oaks on Truth or Tolerance. which leads me to my next time in writing! Challenge Time!! The fireside was a CES fireside and both he and his wife spoke. Both were AMAZING! I want you all to find his talk and watch it. Take notes and find a way to apply it to your life. I know that it applies to everyone on earth. I love you all and I am so thankful for all of you and the support I have felt from your prayers. I hope you all have a great week! 

Love

Syster Juker

Peanut Butter And Jelly

Peanut Butter And Jelly

Hej!

So as some of you may know i like the song "Peanut Butter and Jelly" from Insideout. My loving mother sent me this song on a CD. I listened to it one night because it makes me happy. Now it is the theme of our time together. Syster Jenson has written out the lyrics, we change the words to fit the situation we are in and sing it on the way to the spårvagn stop. Its great! Now we all love it and can share our peanut butter and jelly song all the time!

We have had such a different week then normal since being on my mission. We have had so many different teaches and kinds of teaches and just all around everywhere. We met with a guy Syster Jenson had contacted that Syster Brown and I began teaching. He is very scientific and wants to prove everything about faith in the way of science. We have really connected. Evidently the first time he prayed he prayed to energy and told the energy that he had no use for it. Kinda a different look on life I’d say. Now after meeting with him several time and using different ways to look at the science he has come to an understanding of who God is and who we are in relation to him and how we can rely on him. The teach with him went differently because neither Syster Jenson nor Vistuanet really said much. I was the one who needed to help him understand. Syster Vistaunet helped me realize the fact that we all have our own "baby" here. Someone we connect with and can help explain things too. He just happens to be wired kinda like my brain. So Im super excited to continue the work with him. 

We finally met Syster Vistaunet´s miracle Peder. He is awesome. He is trying to get in contact with his 7 year old son. The spirit was so strong in the teach you could cut it with a knife. He could feel the difference as well. We are also excited to teach him!

On Friday we were late at heading to a teach on the other side of Frölunda Torg. (a shopping center near our house) We got off and tried to find where the apartment was and looking for a sign and not finding what we needed. When a man walks up to me and points at my nametag, "Vad är det för nånting?" literally What is that for anything? the equivalent of what’s that? So I began to tell him that I am a missionary for my church and we talk to people about God. He has sung in a bunch of different religious choirs at different churches. He’s been separated from his wife for a long time and tries to fill his life with good things. So we got his name and number and invited him to church! It was cool to meet him.

Saturday we did some service in the morning at the Holdaway’s house in our ward. I really think that our family especially Bob would get along with Rich. They are awesome! We cut back all the trees and bushes in preparation for winter. Which is steadily coming our way and everyone we talk to reminds us of how cold it was last winter and how its supposed to be super cold again this winter. Makes me a little nervous. Anyway, we worked and served and it felt awesome! The only different thing was that we were cutting off all the green new growth on the trees and such. Completely different than anything I am used to. I was working on one tree and I cut a significant amount off and then I turned around to see the ones that Rich and the Elders had done and I had to take off like 6 more inches. It was a lot of fun. They then fed us lunch. PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY! Rich is from the states so we all reminded a little bit about costco and low prices for food. It was delicious. We hadn’t had peanut butter and jelly for a long time. They then drove us into town for our Swedish class. We were late, it was raining and our students couldn’t come into the building because there was no one to ring them up. So we booked it up the stairs and took turns changing and beginning class. 

Yesterday was great and difficult! We had many people at church that we didn't know. We had our correlation meeting and then as we walked out Lars (the man who asked about my tag) was there! Our members took him in and he felt right at home. It was awesome. Our ward here feels like a ward in the states! Its great and huge and most everyone is willing to help out as much as they can. As sacrament was beginning a family who only spoke English and Portuguese came in. They sat close by me but I figured it be alright we have the electronic translator things. Then the first counselor stood up and told us they weren’t working. I froze, I wasn’t sure I could translate for the whole family. So Brother Murphy came and helped out. I translated for one of our new members until the electronic things were working again. We had a dinner with the Karlsson family and it was good. Syster Vistaunet and I gave the spiritual thought. It was funny as we were walking up from grabbing our scriptures we realized that we were the two people in the entire house that had the littlest skill in Swedish! But there we were giving our testimonies and sharing with everyone what we know is true! 

Its been a great week! How about yours? Can you guess what time it is? Challenge time!!! We had our nightly FHE on the phone with our Zone Leaders and our zone after watching Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration. The full length one. It is a great movie, if you haven’t watched it yet watch it. One of my favorite parts is when Joseph and a few of the apostles are in jail while the guards are speaking horribly of the things that they have done to different members of the church. He instructs them to stop speaking such fowl things. And ends with "Every soul is great in the sight of God." It is a constant reminder of how we should feel toward one another. Sometimes its difficult to keep this in mind when people are not accepting of what we are trying to share with them. Ive laughed with Mom and Syster Vistaunet as I have told them that I think two things when this occurs. First thought Id like to cause a bit of harm to them so that they we recognize what they are missing and my second is to testify. I always think the first but do the second. Im working on getting the first to be the second but of course it takes time. So the challenge for this week is to remember how much everyone is worth to God and should also be for us. Work on this, put other people and their needs before your own.  I have had a difficult time in different situations on my mission but there is no greater feeling then putting someone elses needs before your own and helping them to realize that they are great and are making a difference no matter what it may seem in their own minds. 

I hope you all have a great week! Today we are going with Talitha and Sophia to the islands! Ill be sure to have lots of pictures next week! I love you all be good and dont be dumb!

Love Syster Juker

Pictures! a few random pictures, the dark one was at like 8:00pm, Syster Jenson during weekly planning. Syster Vistaunet yawning on the spårvagn. us on the bus on the way to the holdaways, a picture from the very back of a bus we often take. Its like a catepillar, I like it! a random late night picture of syster Jenson and my finger! 

A Preach My Gospel Missionary

A Preach My Gospel Missionary

Sept 5

Hello Loved Ones!

Well since I last left you its been a great adventure. We had some time to write in Syster Browns buddy book last pday and say goodbye to Syster Brown who is now in Gävle. Wednesday was interesting because Syster Jenson's train didn’t get in until 7:30 at night so Syster Vistaunet and I were companions for a day. We were so excited to get our apartment cleaned and organized we took a lot of the day to do just that. We moved the furniture organized everything and now our apartment is like a new house! It’s amazing! Once Syster Jenson arrived she wanted to do nightly planning! I was so excited! Words do not describe how wonderful this transfer is already and will continue to be! We all get along really well and we plan and make back up plans just like how we were trained to be. On Friday we had our weekly planning time, it was something special. We went up to a tower and looked out over Göteborg and made our transfer goals together, our personal goals for the transfer and created a time capsule that we hid behind a rock of the wall. Its awesome! I’m so excited for this time together. That’s what we call what used to be called transfers because we don’t have those anymore. =) 

Our Swedish class seems to get bigger and bigger each week. I love it! Its the time where we realize that we actually know Swedish. Even though sometimes I still cant follow a conversation perfectly. The people we teach are so kind and patient when we aren’t sure of the rule and we have to look it up. I love them

This week we had a little bit of a scare from our investigator Ely (ellie) she was contemplating moving to Mälmo because they offered her a job. We suggested to her to pray and read the scriptures before making her decision. Syster Vistaunet approached her after Hjälföreningen (relief society) and asked her what the plan was. She had read and prayed a lot and has decided to stay! We are so happy! She is just the sweetest person! She is patient with my Swedish as well. Sometimes I dont know a word so I have to use a lot of little words to describe what the one word means but she waits and understands its great.

So this transfer we got Elders in our Ward. Äldste Smith and Äldste DeLeuw. They are pretty awesome. We had a middag after church yesterday and they invited all of the missionaries. Now we missionaries are the same as a big family here in Sweden. But the Murphy's took us all in and gave us delicious food. We are going to be working closely with them as well as our ward. Our Bishop here is working hard with missionary work and creating a vision for our ward. We are all excited to be a part of it.

Well the time has arrived! Challenge Time! This is where the title comes into play! (Yes Jag tyker om exclamation points!!!) Anyway, as my companionship has taken lots of time to make plans and set goals this time together. We have decided that we are going to be Preach My Gospel Missionaries this transfer. Do everything to jot and title. I’m pretty excited about that. I studied a lot from the book before I left and considered it my baby. Now its pretty much considered my arm. =) Its that important trust me! We are of course following the Spirit because that is what PMG leads us to do. As for us missionaries Preach My Gospel is like an extensive handbook that has practically all the answers when combined with a few others. Now as normal members of the church you may think that you are exempt from this handbook. This is not the case! Every Member a Missionary! Remember who said that? Me neither But I know that its in the first chapter of PMG! Enough with the silliness, Let’s get down to business- to defeat the Huns!! Ok not really but Seriously! Preach My Gospel is the basics of our faith. It has the answer to most of the questions people have about our Church. How often do we take time to study a little bit from it? I know that before I was going to serve a mission I didn’t even own one. SO my challenge is for all of you reading this to get a hold of a Preach My Gospel and study from it a little every day. It is full of activities that lead you through scripture chains and answers to many different questions that we have all had at least once in our life! I know that when we take time for those things that are important, like reading our scriptures and saying our prayers we are showing the Lord how important He is to us and really prioritizing our lives. We can no matter who we are or what we do take a few more minutes and study all of the great literature that The Lord has provided for us in our day! 

Thank you all for all that you do! I’m so thankful to have such a powerhouse of strong spirits backing me up! You all are amazing! I hope you have a great week!

Love Syster Juker

Pictures include weird yellow watermelon that was delicious, Pictures from our planning stuff, Syster Jenson and Syster Vistuanet, etc

No more Crutches!

No more Crutches!

Aug 30

Hello Family and Friends!

A note to everyone who is thinking of serving, in the process of serving, or about to serve a mission... DONT HURT YOURSELF! Its a big pain and quite difficult to get lots of things done in a timely manner. Its been difficult on me and my companions. Do yourselves a favor and pay attention and don’t get hurt. =) On to more positive news! As the title suggests I have no more crutches! I’m super excited too, Its day 2 without them and I’m doing pretty well. Its no longer big and blue, in fact it’s about normal size and color now! 

As for this past week its been awesome the miracles we have been able to see. One thing that we have done is gone around to our members in our ward when they have signed up to feed us and show them a flyer thing where they pray for us by name and then we discuss who we can pray for with them and help prepare to receive the gospel. We were with a family in our ward and we got some people to pray for. Through out the week we had been praying for them and a miracle happened! A less active member ran into various different YSAs throughout the day and they were able to invite him to come to activities and he CAME!!! Then the referral we got we were able to meet and teach and we are beginning to grow faith with him. He is agnostic and praying! I am so thankful for the miracles that come from a faithful prayer! 

This week is transfers and Syster Brown is going to Gävle and Syster Vistaunet and I are staying here with Syster Jenson. I’m pretty excited to get things going here! Its going right now but We agree that it needs some major organizing so We are stoked! It will be awesome to be able to work hard and get things done! 

Being in the center and the freedom I am experiencing now is like a severe case of cabin fever! Its like the best two years "Im red' to go!" (Mom will get it! =))

Challenge time! While in church on Sunday we were reading in James and I got distracted with some notes and cross references in my scriptures to James 5:16. It talks about confessing your faults to each other and then makes a promise of a fervent prayer of a righteous man. To me this is proof of the system of Preach My Gospel comes from Heavenly Father! As missionaries we are regulated a little bit in the things we can do and the things we shouldn’t do. One of those things are companionship inventory, which really is the epitome of this scripture. We talk about how we can become better and work more in unity, then we pray and help each other out throughout the week, and report back the next week. Its a great system. Now on to how this ties to you all back at home and abroad. We are weak, we are human, we all have faults and we all have struggles. You know the old cliché admitting it is the first step. Its the truth. I know that the first person we need to admit our weaknesses to is our Heavenly Father. When we are humble enough to realize that we cant do these things on our own we are able to overcome our weaknesses and be made strong. (Ether 12:27) Throughout these past 6 months of serving a mission I have been able to recognize so many of my own weaknesses. In turn with recognizing them myself I have gone often to my Heavenly Father In prayer and asked for his help and guidance as I strive to be better each day. So the challenge this week is to really converse with our Father in prayer. He is there with a purpose and is just waiting for us to ask for help. I promise you it works! Everyday of this mission is proof that this system works! Do it! I dare you! =)

I love you all! This week will be lots of organizing and changes I am excited! I hope you all have an awesome week! Oh I got an awesome picture from The Petersons! =) It made my day Thank you so much! Thanks also Mom and Dad for the packages of Vitamins and CDs =) music is amazing! I love the one of Uncle Dave singing the scripture mastery as well! Women at the Well makes me get teary eyed but I listen to it anyway! Thanks heaps!

Love

Syster Juker

Pictures! A picture for the nieces! (can you find the birds? they were outside my window during personal study), adventures of Syster Vistaunet and Syster Juker making Banana Bread for the first time! The bananas were stuck to the freezer but it is delicious! That’s our Zone picture! Its Yellow because someone didn’t know how to use my camera but its all good! =)