Gott Nytt Ar... Happy New Year pictures!

Pictures of the week...
1. Tradition! eating my Raisin Bran CRUNCH! thanks dan and laura!
2. me getting my gift (a traditional swedish christmas CD) AWESOME!
3. they give presents out christmas eve and that boy brought em all down in a big bag!
4. pepparkakor way common snack! delicious
5. me and äldste lords enjoying both of our "stockings"
6. bike frozen to the ground... AWESOME!
7. Two investigators we got from Timothy (an investigator) returning after the break
8. You probably already have this one, but I love it!
love ya mom hope ya like em!

Two more...
1. better pic of me getting a present!
2. singing at a members house


love ya mom..

News from Aldste Salima

Hej käre familj!

What a crazy week this has been! We have been going around to many people's houses and caroling for them and just spreading the christmas spirit to those who maybe haven't felt the Holy Ghost in their hearts for a while. This week was awesome though.
We taught one of the people we contacted on the street and the lesson went pretty well. We taught him the 2nd lesson because he wanted to know what we thought the meaning of life was and wanted to tell us what he thought. But after we were done explaining it to him, he said it all kinda... made sense... he said that it's hard to believe in what we said but it all made sense to him. He said that he really likes people that really believe in what they say and he could see it when we bore testimony to him about our families and he could see we knew what we were saying and we said YES WE DO!
Then the next day we went around and went from door to door A LOT. Not a single door would let us talk. We then went to another little town where we contacted a family and she seemed interested in how they could be together forever. But we had always come back and she was never home. So for my christmas present (and the assisstants asked us to do this) I wrote my testimony of the Book of Mormon inside and I put it in her mailbox and so I hope for the day where she will open it, read what it says, and call us up! Of course we'll stop by and see if she is home ever but yeah... We also had another teach which went amazing! It was the first lesson and he (Li Peng... another chinese) was blown away when we gave him a chinese Book of Mormon and was so thankful that he had something to read. We told him about prayer before and we asked if he prayed and he said... you can do this alone? And we said thats where we have found the most guidance in our life is when we pray by ourselves! But we talked about baptism before and how we need to do that to get to the celestial kingdom. So we gave him the Book of Mormon, told him to pray and see if it and what we have taught him is true. And I asked him if he would be willing to be baptized if he recieved an answer and felt it was right and he said YES! haha He also closed the teach by praying! I can't WAIT until all of our investigators come back from winter break! It will be the bomb! We then taught Imad (the one with a baptismal date) and we watched the testaments and how he has never felt those chills go up and down his body before! And he also said that it all comes back down to Faith! This investigator... he is AMAZING! I'm pretty sure he knows more than me! Christmas Eve we went to Familj Rönndahl and had an awesome time with their family (pictures from their house). Did some more caroling... Christmas DAY we went caroling and then Familj Saffer whose son just got back from Spain and we sang along to the christmas story which was pretty fun! We then went to the Anyanwu's house where I got to call my FAMILY! It was awesome to hear all of your voices and I can't wait until mothers day! We then headed home.
The next day we had weekly planning and we talked a lot about how we can stay confident during this tough season and what exactly it is that we need to do to stay HAPPY and enthusiastic in doing the work! And it seems life that it always comes back to faith, Hope, and charity. We show Heavenly Father our Faith by what we do.... we show Heavenly father our Hope by what goals and what we want to achieve... and we achieve our goals by showing people our love for them that Heavenly Father can give them if they accept our message and just talking with everyone! So thats what we plan on doing!
We taught our investigator Imad one more time this morning and it went AMAZING! we talked about how we need to search diligently and when we become humble we realize that we need Heavenly father CONSTANTLY in our lives. And when we do these things we will be able to endure to the End. We then ended by giving him a blessing that he asked for and it was AMAZING. He said that he felt something go through his body from head to do and he felt really good. And we were like really?!? And he said he wasn't lying and we told him that was the Holy Ghost that he felt and we feel it according to our and his Faith. We told him that thats what it will be like at his Baptism! Anyways... just a really good... but challening week!
I'm so sorry to hear about Kelly Stoker... I pray for them every night and just feel so bad for Jeff! I love that man! It just makes me that much more grateful for what I do have. I love you all and it was amazing to talk to all of you.... even if I talked to ya'll for 5 minutes! haha

Ok this is WAY too long! But I love you all and if I forget to say something I'll say it next week!
Hope you all are making your new years resolution! AHHH im finally turning 19 next month! FINALLY!

Love,
Äldste Webster

SNOW IN SWEDEN!

The biggest snowfall in probably 10 years! WOWEE!

Monday December 21, 2009

Hej Familj!

So seeing how I will be talkin to ya'll on christmas I won't say much... But momma knows everything. Everything has been doing well.
It has been snowing A LOT here in Lund and so I took some pictures and this place is beautiful! But very cold. One is of the bus stop we always take (like the tubes in brazil) but there have been some pretty awesome things happening this week but I'll talk to ya'll about it on Christmas DAY! 11:00 am your time! And I might be calling Jake if I have time... HAIGH! But I love you all!

God Jul!
Äldste Webster

Pictures... December 14, 2009

Salima
Book in the library called The Elder (in swedish) haha

looking outside institute

cool park

artistic spider web pic

the smiley version

guy from africa speaks portuguese

first snow here!

God Jul Käre Familj! Jag fick min FÖRST DOPDATUM!‏

God Jul means Merry Christmas (fyi).
But just to clarify, I got on my email with permission... Here at the institute (out-reach center) we have computers and stuff and those are the ones I send my pictures on because the library computers don't let me. But I got on with permission by the couple that is in charge of the institute. So ALL IS WELL!

ANyways.... It's was good to hear from all of you salima heads! So was it just the front rooms that you painted and re-carpeted or was it the whole house? Please extrapolate! But It sounds like the newly engaged couple is doing awesome (by the way its really crazy when I say your names in my prayers! But I love ya!) About this Santa Lucia thing... it is a pretty crazy tradition they have here... We actually tried pretty hard to get in to one of those but they cost money and it was in Satan's church so I opted out... HAIGH! But I've only heard a little about it.. something about this girl with candles on her head. (sent email)

Sorry I kinda accidentally sent my last email. But Anyways... Thanks for the awesome packages that I have gotten from you guys... And Mom I got those two boxes.. I opened the one with green stripes on the side and opened the ones with Ho Ho Ho on them. I hope that was right? But I am truly thankful for the AWESOME Utah Jacket.. Gloves and scarf and ear warmers! I have a whole Utah outfit now... My companion was blown away on how much of a fan I was... yeah.. I don't mess around. But I also did receive the package from Dan & Laura which was wripped apart by the time it got to me but it wasnt open.. just the outer layer was wripped... So im saving that package and moms other one I got till christmas Eve right? But thank the Young women for their package it was well appreciated! I cant have any of the gum.. but the mints will be nice. And Sam.. if you could just send the CD from brandon along with any other missionary appropriate music that would be AWESOME! I can sync my ipod here on the Institute computer...
But heres my week for ya.. actually it will be just the highlights because it takes a long time to write everything that happened.
But last tuesday was one of the COOLEST DAYS here in Sweden! I loved it! So me and Äldste Lords went to the Institute to teach one of our investigators named Imad, his parents come from Iraq or Iran but He has lived in Sweden his whole life. So we talked to him about the impotance of prayer and scripture study (mind you he is a GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR.. he asked us last weeek if he could pay TITHING before he was baptized.. HELLO?!) And it all made sense to him... he reminded us that he is in 4TH NEPHI already... He definitely puts me to shame! And we talked a little bit more about baptism and he really wanted us to wait to make a date for him because he wanted to know EVERYTHING before he he set a date. So we told him that the reason we set dates is just so we can set a goal and know what to teach so he can be ready for Baptism. I bore my testimony to him and I told him that even us missionaries and leaders in our church don't know everything... that's why we are here... the Earth is a time to prepare to meet God. Thats why prayer and scripture study is so important because its a foundation of our Faith. After I did that he asked us what exactly DOES he need to be baptized? So we read him the baptismal interview questions and once we were done reading them the spirit FILLED the room. He looked up at us and said he had two concerns... one about the Law of chastity and he told us that he asked the Lord for forgivness and he has felt the confirmation and he's been good for long time now. And we told him that repentence is something that he has already done. He recognized it was wrong.. forgave others he has wronged... and asked Heavenly Father for forgiveness and turned away and CAME unto Christ. This guy is AMAZING! He had a problem with smoking and he said he has been doing it less and less ever since he has been taught about it.. and he made a goal for himself to stop COMPLETELY by the new year. We told him we could give him a blessing and he accepted so we will be giving him one next week! We bore our testimonies and said we knew he was ready... and he did to. So we asked him WILL YOU be baptized on January 9th, 2010? After he felt the confirmation that he was ready he said yes! Write this in the books! Man the happiness you feel after something like that is just AMAZING! after he left me and Äldste Lords just looked at each other and just had the biggest smile on our face! So we went to Subway to celebrate!
So that was just amazing. Our african Mpoki is really needing help witha desire to come to church. We think she is ready.. She does too.. we have taught her everything but she needs to come to church! And now that all of our Student investigators are getting done with tests we'll be able to have them back again! Timothy (the chinese guy) is awesome.. were going to be teaching him this week and he asked us if he could bring his friend! YES! I'm amazed on how much more referalls we get from investigators than members! But life is going well here in lund! I also got to use my portuguese this sunday with the Lunds Sister's investigator RUI from Mozabique! he is heading back home this friday but it was good to talk to him while I could. He told me I had a brazililan accent! Haha its a good thing!
But I had the chance to give my first talk here in the ward! It was pretty scary but amazing! I told them about a scripture in Romans 10:13-15 and how we need to spread the gospel and the christmas spirit to everyone! How else are they going to know about it without someone who tells it to them? (thanks for the scripture mom! It was inspired and got complements about it after) I got a complement from a Swedish lady and told me to tell my parents that my swedish is very good! Im so thankful for the Gift of Tongues.. can I just tell you that? MAN.

But Zone Conference was AMAZING! it was good to see someone in my MTC group again and just exchanged stories and whatnot. But Syster Anderson is amazing! she did this awesome workshop on Coaching instead of Criticizing! Very good! It was a good way to actually put into practice how to evaluate and correct your companion. We have a perfect message... we need to perfect the messenger! Very good one liner... But they actually do interviews later in the transfer... which is called sharpenings... I thought that was an interesting way to do things. But our gift from the Andersons was a Book of Mormon and two pencils... Just for the purpose of writing your feelings in... and underlining everything having to do with the Atonement! AMAZING if you ask me! It reminded me of all of those good times preparing for the Zone Conferences and just very little detail... I saw the assisstants practicing... and it was awesome to see how every mission is the same... just different people!

One last thing... we had this thing where us missionaries and a few members and investigators went to this main center place by a big christmas tree and sang. We sang carols and handed out Joy to the World DVDs and cookies with a spiritual thought in them. But what the truly amazing thing was... Is that what drew them in wasnt the traditional swedish christmas songs.. but the Hymns... they drew the spirit in more powerfully and that feeling for all of them is so foreign that they came closer and listened to us. It was an amazing experience... just spreading Christmas Spirit to all that will listen!

These were just some of the highlights of my week. It didn't shorten it at all but I am just having an amazing time! I'm trying my best to Be Good, Do Good and be obedient. Because now at this christmas time isn't that whats it's about? Showing our Heavenly Father our thankfulness that he sent his son to the Earth so that WE could come back to him by being obedient to the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel? I think so!

Well I love you all and I'll have more details about the call next week... but I love you all! Thanks for your prayers and everything you do for me!

Peace out...
ÄLDSTE SALIMA

PICTURES!!!

Aight so these are just some pictures of here and of that AWESOME place in Helsingborg. AHH SO cool the pictures really dont give it justice.

I do have a lot more but you'll just have to wait two years. Man this place is beautiful... even though its dark all the time
Love you all! Peace!
Äldste Webster

Are my easily pouring tear ducts from dad? I think so...‏

Don't get too thrown off by my Subject... it was a good week! Just wondering...
ANyways
So this week has been a pretty tiring week! But when you're tired as a missionary thats a good thing right?
Tuesday:
So for tuesday decided to go on Splits with the Zone Leaders! So that was pretty fun! It was good to get a feel of a new area to get a better feel of Sweden and not just Lund. So I went to a city north of lund on the cost called Helsingborg with Äldste Dawson (one of my zone leaders). And we ran around and we contacted I think everyone we see on our way too and from errands he needed to do! And there was my first time I saw a girl take out a cigarette and light it.. smoke it all and blow it all in our face during our contact with her. Very interesting! But God loves everyone right? So we talked to her and nothing came from it. But then we went around and got his name and what the missionaries do in a local newspaper... I thought that was an interesting way to let people know why there is two americans walking around and talking about God (foreign subject for everyone). But it was awesome... First time riding a bike and by legs BURNED! Anywho....
Wednesday:
We listened to a talk that morning by (Sam you need to look this up because he mentions and explains the last chapters in first nephi AWESOMELY!) Mark E. Peterson and it was called or at least he talked about How the Earth was prespared for the Restoration. It was an AMAZING talk! you all should listen to it! And then Äldste Lords came back up and we went back to Lund. Pretty average day after that.
Thursday:
District Meeting! It was good as always... we learned about how to set meaningful goals and it was pretty amazing! It hard stuff... But once I get it down I know it will give the mission a lot more meaning! Then me and Äldste Lords made Shephards Pie for all of them and we left to Södra Sandby which is a city in our area with some less actives so we visitied them and one wanted written out.. One was sick and wanted us to come back later and the rest werent home! But amazing houses! Then contacting and dinner and a meeting. Good times
Friday:
Weekly Planning day! and so we incorporated our meaningful goals and so that was pretty fun and then we taught our most recently baptized member Viola! And she just awesome.. chinese and we talked to her about the temple and her getting a call sometime and she was just so excited! Then we went to this Polish woman's house and she has been accepting everything were saying and what the previous elders said but everytime they mentioned baptism she would refuse. So me being the way I am thought it was IMPOSSIBLE if someone really understood what being baptized by the right authourity MEANT WHY REFUSE! So we talked about Faith and how these lessons that we teach her dont apply untill she actually applies the Gospel of Jesus Christ INTO her life. And it went AMAZING! Everything was going fine until I bore strong testimony on how much the church has affected my life... And without it I didn't know what I would be without the knowledge that they have. And I told her that it will change her life for the best. But Satan had some major power over her... and she didnt see the purpose of being baptized AGAIN... we explained authority and how were the ONLY church that had it here on the earth today. She thought it was more of a symbol and we said that by being baptized we become capable of attaining the celestial kingdom and trust me... we tried EVERYTHING... But there was something inside of her that just wasnt getting through... It was like teaching a wall and listening to a broken record... We would teach her why.. then she would say ive already been baptized! YEESH! Frustrating so we decided that we couldn't teach her anymore and I bore my last testimony to her (hence the subject) and we left.. Nothing got through to her... it wasnt contentious... just nothing got through! So we gave her back to the Lord. Then to get rid of my stress we went to a school and played a sport with members and less-actives called Innebandy or something like that which is like Hockey but with a large (waffle ball?)
Saturday:
We went to a city called Höör and did some less active work and no one answered... we asked a man in the front of a house if he knew someone.. he looked at our tags and said no.. ouch. So we went to another city next door called Eslöv and the same happened... nothing. Then we came back and taught our AWESOME investigator from Africa Mpoki and we brought a member with us who had two kids and was her same age so they were able to bond and stuff like that so then we talked about how she NEEDED to come to church... she has No problem being baptized and facing conflicts with her family (her dad being a priest). But she finds it hard to find the confidence in going to Church (weird I know) But sooner or later she WILL come to church and she WILL be baptized.. hear you me! Good day
Sunday: Church was fast and testimony meeting and those are just amazing because you are able to see how the members are and how strong their testimonies really are! And after church we had a dinner with a family Wiklöf which was awesome and AMAZING! French bread, spaghetti, and all that good stuff. Then we sshared a spiritual thought with them about chirstmas and we were off! Contacted and went home.
Today:
We took a bus to Helsingborg and took a hike to this amzing place called Mimis and its this guy and takes all of this drift wood that comes in from the sea and stuff like that and build these AMAZING CASTLES! SO CRAZY! probably one of the wonders of the world I kid you not... if any of you come here at the end of the mission were going THERE again. pictures to follow...

But thats my week for ya.. apparently according to Jake Winegar I write epistles so I finish mine by saying... Sweden is Dope. Zone conference this week! YAY! I get my package from ya'll!
PS when should I call you guys Christmas eve or day? what time?
Pss I need to know who I have for christmas! So I can send a package from here! but all is well im keeping warm... members are feeding us... Just need to find out how to excite the members about missionary work! Its tough stuff!

Well love you all! Pictures to follow!

TURKEY BOWL PICTURES! and others...

Preparing the feast... District Thanksgiving..

Chinese class?!?

TURKEY BOWL!! (or Boll as he said?!)

FEAST!

How chur mah! geez!

Hej käre familj!

Man this has been quite the tiring week! Kinda filled with fruitless labor. ( I´ll explain later)

But last tuesday:

We had some meetings and then we had an appointment with Timothy a chinese man and he had a class so that fell through till the next day. So we GOT to contact for about 3 1\3 hours so we put up some Swedish class signs in the university campus (there are MANY who dont speak Swedish here). And then the rest of the time we only got one guy who would give us his number for a visit later and he was from Italy! Man im sure enjoying how there hasnt been many Swedish people in our teachng pool. I have DEFINITELY spoken more english than swedish here (not because I choose to.. but I have to!) But its pretty fun here... challenging for sure... but fun. Wealso have this less active member from Iran and he is sooo awkward its hillarious... 5 minutes with complete silence isnt foreign to him. But that way if its not awkward for him.. its not awkward for us!

Wednesday:

We went to a members house named Lars Nilsson's house he is probably the coolest old man ever. Big guy.. tiny wife... awesome people.Then we actually got to teach Timothy and we challenged him to Baptism and he had thi problem with when he goes back to china he wont know which tea he wont be able to drink. So I asked swa for some help on that one. But were working with him for a date. then we prepared for our Swedish class and and taught yet.. another chinese girl named Yang who is quite the depressed girl and we taught her about the Plan of HAPPINESS and gave her some meaning to life and how were supposed to be here and have JOY! but she took it pretty well. then we had our Swedish class (weird me teaching swedish but they know NOTHING. So we just teach them some basic principles and have a little spiritual thought at the end and people actually keep coming! So it will be helpful eventually!

Thursday:

HAPPY thanksgiving! We got to start out the day with an AWESOME District Meeting by my awesome companion which was on Gratitude. And I am so thankful that my mom has MADE ME FOOD! and by dad has an amazing job so he could afford food and buy jake a new car (wait.. what?#3? #4?) ANYways... and all of the love that my family has for me and the support they show me! I really am thankful for all ya'll! Then we had our thanksgiving feast with the district and it was truly amazing! Turkey is expensive here.. so we had chicken! Then we left and tracted in a different way... by doing a survey and we get more people to talk to us... but with that comes more rejection... but just planting seeds like no other thats for sure. Then we got to go to the Institute and be in that class and I got to bear my testimony to them in Swedish... the teacher said to me in english "you can do it in English if you want" And I said to myself " YA DUDE" so of course I did it in Swedish! Good times. then we had a corolation meeting.

Friday:

went and did the survey thing again. and taught our NEWEST member in the ward Viola (yes she is chinese), And she had a lot of questions about repentance and how she can just not go to church and repent later... and about the spirit world and stuff. So the spirit was really stong in there and we were able to communicate to her and she understood everything! Then we went to our church to set up for our church tour that we were going to give to out almost baptismal date Poki! Which was an amazing experience! Then we watched the fireside with Pres Uchtdorf and there was about 5 chinese (including one from Taiwan) there and then was had come snacks after.. Swa you would have been in HEAVEN! And right then I was able to say HOW CHUR MAH! haha man I love Asians.. they are so accepting and they really recieving our message quite well!

Saturday:

We were able to do a TURKEY BOWL for an activity and we invited some members and all of those chinese there and that was just HILLARIOUS! It is monday and I am STILL sore from that. We then had come real TURKEY with some members and cut the turkey and the thanksgiving spirit really was there! Then we did some weekly planning and then went to a members house and he taught us how to make these sandwiches. And planned for our lesson to the YOUTH on Sunday for ward conference!

Sunday:

So we got to the church an hour early so we would have a meeting but there was other meetings held so we had a meeting 10 min before it started which consisted of, " all of your investigators doing well? any coming to church? good job!" So yeah that didnt make me too happy and Poki didnt come to church. And then we had to teach the Youth... so we taught them on the potential that they have and that they are the chosen ones in Abraham and all of that good stuff and they would just keep talking and talking.... BUT we were able to get one thanks after and this girl said she had one friend that asked about the church and she didnt know what to say.. we gave her some council and sent her on her way. (that rhymed). So we finished off our weekly planning and went to this house where these people invited the whole ward and some of their non member friends to an activity. We sang the night away which really built our trust with the members and so that was pretty fun! Christmas season has begun here! Its amazing!

But family all is well here in Lund! My apartment is actually out of our area so we have to take a bus into Lund every morning which is kinda lame but whatev. Theres a pair of sisters... us... and the senior missionary couple in charge of the institute. You cant send pictures from this computer but were going to the institute where we can! But I love you all and am thankful for all of you!

my adress is

Rudolf Bååths vägen 13b

245 32 Staffanstorp

Sweden

so yeah look that up. its a little red apartment thingy..

I cant think of any questions I needed to answer you all but if you have any shoot em in the emails! Congrats to sam though! Love you both!

Sincelerely Yours,

Äldste Webster

Aldste Websters FIRST WEEK

Hey ya'll! Well it has just been the craziest week ever! P.S. Mother don't worry I did get a coat and it is huge and AWESOME and I also got 2 scarves? scarfs? Whatev. But yeah all is well around here! I actually forgot to bring my camera here to the Library so I'll be sending pictures next week. So I arrived here in Sweden and then we went straight to the Mission office to get some papers filled out and then we went to the Mission home and chilled around there and wrote a letter to you so you will be getting that in the mail so that will tell you about the first days in Sweden but let me tell you about some of my first days in......... LUND! How crazy is that? that Im here where my ancestors way back when were first being bapized! I'm sure you're all happy for that... as am I. {Nana's Grandfather Niels Christian ANDERSON was born in Lund! (#12 on the Nelson Pedigree chart)} But we were in the chapel getting all of those trainings (mom and dad... you know) from the secretaries and what not and then our trainers walked in... president gave us letters with our assignment on them and our companions names and then we had to figure out which one was our trainer by talking to all 4 of them in Swedish. And so his name is Aldste Lords and e is such a thug! by that I mean dope.. and by that I mean really a spiritual guy and an amazing trainer! But we all were at the train station in stockholm and what not and then Jamón showed up because he got a new compaion as well! So we embraced like real men and then he helped me get my bags on the train and we said our goodbyes and right when he got off the train, the doors shut so we almost missed the train but DONT worry we are here and all is well! But man sweden is awesome! It's really amazing how similiar Stockholm was to Curitiba... there wasnt much culture shock... just the whole language shock. but AH its kinda dumb how everyone speaks english here because I try to speak my crappy Swedish and they answer me in English so bashudu? but by the time I got to the mission office (the first day) the assisstants and everyone knew because of elder jackson and winegar that I was elder nelson's grandson but meh.. no pressure right?

But once we got on the train we took a 4 hour ride to the Malmö Zone, city of Lund. And its awesome here... of course its dark pretty much the whole time except the hours of the day when we are inside studying (DOH!). But my kamrat comes from Pleasant Grove (same as my mtc comp) and he plans on going to the U after his mish... ATTA BOY! yeah so I was excited to her that! But we first got here and our first day was week\transfer planning day so that took a long time But we are doing awesome. '

Just some sweet experiences while we have been here:

My first time contacting and some guy was with her wife and she said no thank you and he threw some swears at us but meh... I read Matthew 10 the other day so that didnt phase me! haha But we went to this Referral from stockholm and it was this arabic girl and her family so now weve got her to investigate and she was pretty excited to get it in arabic so im happy for that!

But then we went around in some apartments and ya know... did some tracting and my first door approach was kinda funny... It was this woman and her kid and I was so set on talking about the restoration and then I switched to eternal families and this is how it went " hi we were wondering if... you... want... be... together.. with.. family.... forever? and then my companion came in and saved the day and then she wasnt interested and so yeah... I guess her little daughter that was right by her grabbing her leg wasnt important enough to live with her for eternity but WHATEV.

Then there was this other guy who listening to loud music and stuff so we banged on the door and he came and opened the door with no shirt.. and tight jeans and we asked him what he thought the meaning of life was... then he put his hands on his chin and pondered (while flexing mind you). But he wasnt interested.

But there have been a lot of experiences like that.

But theres this one girl from china I think yes swa.. how chur ma... who was just baptized a week before I came and it was so cool to have an investigator who had so many questions for us about the plan of salvation and us being able to answer them! So shes doing great.

But our favorite so far has been his lady named Poki from Africa and she is just amazing. The elders have been teaching her and teaching her and then we went in and just decided that we needed to commit her to Baptism to why not! we did just that.. . we taught about authority and how we need to follow christs example and be baptized! So she ACCEPTED! BUT she wanted to go to church first and see how it feels and she asked us if she could bring her aunt... ummm YEAH! So this next Sunday will be amazing (hopefully)! So were shooting for December 19th so pray for her! But all is going well... Its just ridiculously harder contacting here than it is in brazil... people are so depressed and just downers and find it hard to believe in a God when their government already provides everything for them. But its ok...

Dad and mom: well... actually everyone that has been on a mission... What are some good ways you think would be of finding... besides through members? Im actually reqally looking forward to an answer on that one.

But just so you know that letters address is for everything under 4 lbs. and then over 4 lbs goes to the packages address. Thought that would be useful. But im being fed pretty well by the members and they have been in ENGLISH both times so... whatev. But they are amazing.

CONGRATS TO SAM AND LARA!! I KNOW YOU WOULD MAKE IT! Thats so exciting MARCH will be a choice month... now I know I wont be getting any emails or letters because now my #1 fan will be too busy. But thas ok... im just here... on my lonesome... wondering whats happening... (BAHAHA) But I'll just assume no news it good news...

But I did see jamon... i did get a coat... letters I will get whenever they get here and packages I will get only every zone conference. and this IS my new mail address where I can communicate to my family only and my family to me...

But all is well here and I love you all!

Ha en bra vecka!

Aldste Webster

(Adam sent 4 other emails with quick responses...)

(ps) good to hear maezinha! thanks! (I told him about the SL Real winning)

(ps-2) By the way.. Lund is awesome because its a college city and so it has this outreach center/ institute which is awesome because it kinda breaks down the awkwardness barrier from missionary to normal person. But yeah thats our main focus here in Lund... find the youngn's!

But I love you momma!

Tchau gente!

ps... tell sam its about time

(ps-3) AH ALSO! the sisters who work in this area found a guy who is from Africa and speaks PORTUGUESE! SO AMAZING! So he is pretty close to baptism and I got to speak with him the other day but it was lame because I kept slipping Swedish in! DOH BART!

Anyways... that is all love ya

(ps-4)

heres a pic off my companions camera! love you all

its at the chapel when we first met

Hey ya'll! Well it has just been the craziest week ever! P.S. Mother don't worry I did get a coat and it is huge and AWESOME and I also got 2 scarves? scarfs? Whatev. But yeah all is well around here! I actually forgot to bring my camera here to the Library so I'll be sending pictures next week. So I arrived here in Sweden and then we went straight to the Mission office to get some papers filled out and then we went to the Mission home and chilled around there and wrote a letter to you so you will be getting that in the mail so that will tell you about the first days in Sweden but let me tell you about some of my first days in......... LUND! How crazy is that? that Im here where my ancestors way back when were first being bapized! I'm sure you're all happy for that... as am I. But we were in the chapel getting all of those trainings (mom and dad... you know) from the secretaries and what not and then our trainers walked in... president gave us letters with our assignment on them and our companions names and then we had to figure out which one was our trainer by talking to all 4 of them in Swedish. And so his name is Aldste Lords and e is such a thug! by that I mean dope.. and by that I mean really a spiritual guy and an amazing trainer! But we all were at the train station in stockholm and what not and then Jamón showed up because he got a new compaion as well! So we embraced like real men and then he helped me get my bags on the train and we said our goodbyes and right when he got off the train, the doors shut so we almost missed the train but DONT worry we are here and all is well! But man sweden is awesome! It's really amazing how similiar Stockholm was to Curitiba... there wasnt much culture shock... just the whole language shock. but AH its kinda dumb how everyone speaks english here because I try to speak my crappy Swedish and they answer me in English so bashudu? but by the time I got to the mission office (the first day) the assisstants and everyone knew because of elder jackson and winegar that I was elder nelson's grandson but meh.. no pressure right?

But once we got on the train we took a 4 hour ride to the Malmö Zone, city of Lund. And its awesome here... of course its dark pretty much the whole time except the hours of the day when we are inside studying (DOH!). But my kamrat comes from Pleasant Grove (same as my mtc comp) and he plans on going to the U after his mish... ATTA BOY! yeah so I was excited to her that! But we first got here and our first day was week\transfer planning day so that took a long time But we are doing awesome. '

Just some sweet experiences while we have been here:

My first time contacting and some guy was with her wife and she said no thank you and he threw some swears at us but meh... I read Matthew 10 the other day so that didnt phase me! haha But we went to this Referral from stockholm and it was this arabic girl and her family so now weve got her to investigate and she was pretty excited to get it in arabic so im happy for that!

But then we went around in some apartments and ya know... did some tracting and my first door approach was kinda funny... It was this woman and her kid and I was so set on talking about the restoration and then I switched to eternal families and this is how it went " hi we were wondering if... you... want... be... together.. with.. family.... forever? and then my companion came in and saved the day and then she wasnt interested and so yeah... I guess her little daughter that was right by her grabbing her leg wasnt important enough to live with her for eternity but WHATEV.

Then there was this other guy who listening to loud music and stuff so we banged on the door and he came and opened the door with no shirt.. and tight jeans and we asked him what he thought the meaning of life was... then he put his hands on his chin and pondered (while flexing mind you). But he wasnt interested.

But there have been a lot of experiences like that.

But theres this one girl from china I think yes swa.. how chur ma... who was just baptized a week before I came and it was so cool to have an investigator who had so many questions for us about the plan of salvation and us being able to answer them! So shes doing great.

But our favorite so far has been his lady named Poki from Africa and she is just amazing. The elders have been teaching her and teaching her and then we went in and just decided that we needed to commit her to Baptism to why not! we did just that.. . we taught about authority and how we need to follow christs example and be baptized! So she ACCEPTED! BUT she wanted to go to church first and see how it feels and she asked us if she could bring her aunt... ummm YEAH! So this next Sunday will be amazing (hopefully)! So were shooting for December 19th so pray for her! But all is going well... Its just ridiculously harder contacting here than it is in brazil... people are so depressed and just downers and find it hard to believe in a God when their government already provides everything for them. But its ok...

Dad and mom: well... actually everyone that has been on a mission... What are some good ways you think would be of finding... besides through members? Im actually reqally looking forward to an answer on that one.

But just so you know that letters address is for everything under 4 lbs. and then over 4 lbs goes to the packages address. Thought that would be useful. But im being fed pretty well by the members and they have been in ENGLISH both times so... whatev. But they are amazing.

CONGRATS TO SAM AND LARA!! I KNOW YOU WOULD MAKE IT! Thats so exciting MARCH will be a choice month... now I know I wont be getting any emails or letters because now my #1 fan will be too busy. But thas ok... im just here... on my lonesome... wondering whats happening... (BAHAHA) But I'll just assume no news it good news...

But I did see jamon... i did get a coat... letters I will get whenever they get here and packages I will get only every zone conference. and this IS my new mail address where I can communicate to my family only and my family to me...

But all is well here and I love you all!

Ha en bra vecka!

Aldste Webster

good to hear maezinha! thanks!

By the way.. Lund is awesome because its a college city and so it has this outreach center/ institute which is awesome because it kinda breaks down the awkwardness barrier from missionary to normal person. But yeah thats our main focus here in Lund... find the youngn's!

But I love you momma!

Tchau gente!

ps... tell sam its about time

AH ALSO! the sisters who work in this area found a guy who is from Africa and speaks PORTUGUESE! SO AMAZING! So he is pretty close to baptism and I got to speak with him the other day but it was lame because I kept slipping Swedish in! DOH BART!

Anyways... that is all love ya

heres a pic off my companions camera! love you all

its at the chapel when we first met

Sheri Dew at the MTC... November 15, 2009

This is a letter written to me this morning (11/16/09)

"Good morning dear Sylvia

Sheri spoke at the MTC last night (Sunday Nov 15^th) and guess who came up to her and said “Do you remember me?”

Sheri said “Tell Sylvia that Elder Adam Webster looks just great!” She said he is just clear eyed and filled with light!

He is clearly in his element and doing all the right things!

You raised a giant of a man—just like his father! And grandfathers!

Happy Monday.

Have a great day and just know that Elder Adam Webster is on the Lord’s errand and making his mother and father very proud.

Love

Wendy"

Last MTC letter... November 11,2009

Hej Familj! Hur gor det?! So jag ar so mtcket tacksamma for min familij och for alla som har skrivit mig! Oh wait... So that just says I am so thanksful for my family and to all of those who wrote me! (meaning thanks mom for being the only one to write me this week!)

But in better news this has been a really amazing week full of English fasting and just getting in all of the info I need before I leave to my dear country of sweden! I admit it.. im trunky.. FOR SWEDEN! But thats a good thing.. right? But the VERY artistic picture of my and elder chester I plan on doing with all of my companions! So you will see the bottom of my shoes every time I get a new companion! But first off I was reminded that some elders are going to be using their delta skymiles card? Is that something that I should do or not worry about it! Cause that would be a plus if I were to get all of those miles.
SO MY ITINERARY PLAN:November 16 we leave the MTC at 1:30 and the flight out of Salt Lake will be DELTA flight number 170 @ 4:45 to PARIS! AHH Longest flight of my life! But that just gives me more time to preach the gospel eller hur? (am I right?) Then I arrive at 11:15am the next day at Paris De Gaulle and leave @ 4:04 pm. (not sure what time zone all of these times are in) you could figure it out. But I will be arriving in Stockholm Sweden @ 6:35 pm 17 November, 2009! Good times ahead! So the call home will probably be from Salt Lake and so you should be home sometime between 1-4 (i know thats a long time but im not sure what time im going to call so take that)!

But tell Swa that that kid that wrote on my facebook is from taiwan so she can chat it up with him (maybe? maybe not?) But yeah he's a good kid. But thank you MOM for the Chocolate and the FRESH cookies and more envelopes? Im not sure what im going to send in all of those but im sure I'll find a use for them. But how was the family party at the hiz-ouse? Good times? But thats awesome that Dad told that racoon story on Sunday because that was told on Sunday by Richard I. Heaton. We had him for the second time but he is an AMZING speaker! He talked about finding the purpose IN OUR PURPOSE AS A MISSIONARY! An amzing talk! why have faith? so we can repent. why? so we can be baptized. why? to recieve the Holy Ghost. Why? so we may be able to ENDURE to the End with the constant companionship of the holy ghost! Brilliant (i thought) But then yesterday William R. Walker of the Seventy came and just told about the growth of temples for an hour. But something really hit me. It made me so grateful for my parent's hard work and all that they did to enforce the missionaries to have people pay their tithing and whatnot! But It reminded me of when President Monson was there and I was close to him and he gave me the little cement shovel to put in the corner! AHH what an AMZING EXPERIENCE! Dad I know that the people of Curitiba were so blessed because of all of the effort you went through. I never really realized how much of a part you played in that! But that kinda reminded me on is that the KIND of Faith im going to have when I go to Sweden? Enough faith to be able to have yet ANOTHER temple there (of course a combined effort from all the missionaries) But that really hit me that that is what we are striving for. To connect all of God's eternal family back together again like Elijah said. What a great time. But one more experience I had in the RC was this woman I was calling back to see if she recieved a Bible she said she did. And I was prompted to ask her if she knew her purpose here in life and she said that she is just grateful to be alive. Because her mom and brother passed away and she worked all the time and she really wants to see them again. So I quickly switched gears and TESTIFIED to her that she will be able to see her family again! And that that plan to return to our Heavenly Father has been revealed through the Book of Mormon. She was trully ready to recieve that message and so I send her a Book of Mormon and im going to call her back and talk about the Plan of Salvation. ANY SUGGESTIONS?! IM SO EXCITED to share this message with Sweden and hopefully my testimony on being able to see decieced members of our family again will come in handy. Maybe my portuguese will help. But I know I have been called of God to serve the people of Sweden. I love my district so much. We have been able to get so close to each other. (lets just say theres going to be some great things happening in Sweden) But as for any last requests before I leave... Maybe some pictures I could show someone in Sweden of Brazil? or my baptism picture? Just any old school pictures. but other than that I can't think of anything that important right now. But if its really that important I'll ask for it in Sweden and hopefully my sweet dear mother will be kind enough to send it. but Any advice for the field? Mission President interview advice (whoosie)? I love you all and am so thankful for my fambamily! Jag alskar alla er! Vi Ses! But I think thats all I need to say but I love you all! Change my address to the Swedish one! (unless you can get it to me in 3 days) Love you all!

Aldste Webster

PICTURES!!!

These pictures all came at the same time... so they've been taken in the last 7 weeks while Adam has been at the MTC. Enjoy!

Adam with Elder Sellers

Adam's comp... Elder Chester from Lindon UT

Elders Blaylock, Chester, Jorgenson, and Webster

With Chase Elwood from the Sterling Heights ward.

Lookin good elders!

At the temple