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

Pictures from the MTC!!!

Entering the MTC... September 16, 2009

Letter...November 4, 2009

Hej familj! Hur gor det?! So it's pretty much crazy that im only a week and a half away from being on an airplane to SWEDEN! I should be getting my flight plans tomorrow or the next day so I'll fill you in next week! So seeing how letters get to me 3 days later (except dear elder's) change my address to the Sweden one on November 13th. becuase I leave on the 16th so we get there the 18th! (this is my guess). But just so all of you know last week really WAS an amzing week! I looked back on it and it seemed kinda downer but it was AMAZING! Very spiritually uplifting! Anyways... I am doing very well... I'm healthy.. just had a headache the other day but not too bad. Today I'm sending my memory card to you and some pictures. So copy them all onto your computer and then send it back. Or a new one back so we can have two memory cards in motion yeah?! And I might need for furutre reference a memory card holder or something. Maybe not.. whatev. Honestly, Swedish is coming along just fine! Me and Elder Chester taught the second lesson in the TRC and I invited the investigator to be baptized and he said "Well, I guess I would HAVE to, to get all of those blessing you promised!" Man... I was a giddy like a school girl just then but its not a real situation so we'll just have to see how it goes in Sweden! But this past week we had a workshop on commiting/inviting people to be baptized on the first/second visit. REALLY GOOD, because if you invite someone to be baptized you know where they are... and if they say no.. you know what to teach them to GET them to say yes so its an all around EXCELLENT thing! (of course follow the spirit on commiting to be baptized as well). but Sunday we had a fireside with the Beeson's (executive director?) and they are quite the interesting characters but they basically said to have a prayer in your heart the whole day and then before you go to bed give thanks. Morning prayer: planning session w/ the lord. Night prayer: companionship inventory w/ the Lord. Yeah... I liked that. Then on Monday we had a large group meeting where he talked to us on the most important Key Indicator to see if they are going to get baptized.. bringing them to SACRAMENT MEETING! By doing that, you can instantly see if they are willing to keep commitments. And if you plan it out well enough... you will be able to welcome them in to the ward SO much easier... and make them WANT to go to church. Very important! He talked about being BOLD and always following up with them and being persistant. Then he pulled up Elder ARNOLD's talk about BISPO ARAUJO and that guy that was surfing on sundays and stuff! Made me miss that man so much! But then tuesday night was the devotional. And the Rasbands spoke. She talked about 3 Nephi 18:24 which was an awesome scripture so I plan on that being my scripture for this week! Then Elder ransband talked about being bold and how we need to talk with EVERYONE! and he gave us a BUNCH of scriptures on Opening our mouths that they may be filled! And if worse comes to worse... bear testimony to them and say I came all the way here from Salt Lake Utah... To share with you what I know to be true and it has changed my life for the better. So it gave me this huge boost of confidence! He also gave me this way good idea on to bring people to us on the streets. I COULD SING! to bring people to me! So Heavenly Father really has answered my prayers this week! Finding People? check! Teaching w/ baptizm invitations? check! Sacrament Meeting being the most important key indicator before baptisms! CHECK! What a good week this has been! There is just us 4 going to Sweden. Yes we can call you at the airport. Thanks for the Books, journals, stain removers treats gloves photo book! I love you momma! This MTC experience really had made me grow so much! And I still have quite the way to go! We are going to be doing English fasts for most of the week so we'll see how that goes! Thats all I need to to to improve my Swedish so... yeah. Good times here... My clothes are getting tight (im not getting fat just bigger and taller) so I think im going to be shopping when I get there! But yeah... Love you all! More info on travel stuff next week! Pictures are coming... And yeah.. Love you all!

Vi ses!
Aldste Webster

Letter... October 28, 2009

Hej min familj! jag har en vittnesbord om Jesu Kristi forsoning och hur man kan kanna narmare Gud nar vi amvenda i voara liv. If you don't understand that... ask dave. He should know. pretty basic but so true. So on thursday or friday I got this random dearelder.com letter from momma saying how Russell will be alright and through prayer and fasting he'll become better. WHAT? But of course, through time me questions were answered by David & Mom. I was then able to feel comforted. But I was with you fasting and praying for him on Friday! And I am so glad to hear that that poor little blessing is doing alright! Russell is in my prayers! (by the way I got the pictures yesterday! cute little doodily! Thank to mom for that AMAZING HALLOWING package! you're so creative and it made me realize how much I really love you! Thanks so much for sending me B-man's address! It was well needed and I already shot off a letter to him so thanks! By the way how much will it be to send a letter to him from Sweden? Because ya know.. I'm going to be there in EXACTLY 3 weeks! But who's counting?
How did the dinner with Brockbanks go? Hows mikell maquel makell doing and how was their wedding! Send my love to them! But being here a while I have had a little wish list which is so far... Grandfathers book, picture holder for all of the pictures you send and those straps for the bag! I would like those anytime! Speaking of grandfather make sure you tell him thanks for his talk that he send me with all of the references! That will surely help out alot!
(Mother by the way, I loved the scripture in Romans 10:15 and it helped out alot tack so mycket! And to sam... I just read those last chapters in 1 Nephi and I've got a couple things to say about it but I'll send it in a letter). This Sunday we were visited by Elder Thomas (a district president here in the MTC) and he talked about how B.O.M. researchers are amazed on how Joseph Smith would"make up" All of those things from Lehi'd civilization and the things that came out of the Abraham chapters... pretty deep and scientific but interesting. And then this Tuesday we were PRIVILEDGED to have Elder L Tom Perry with us and the spirit that came into the room was just like a slap across the face! It was amazing! He talked to us about How teaching is central to all that we do. And he pretty much quoted the whole video by Elder Holland on teaching.so you know when you get the same message taught twice to you it should be pretty important that that's what you have to focus on a lot! So thats what I plan on doing! But to tell you about my week Satan really tempts you when your mind isn't occupied by scripture study, and other uplifting things. This week he has given me this feeling of unworthiness to serve. And saturday was just a bad day because all of my "lessons with investigators" fell through and I just wasn't digging it. But after all of the opposition comes the blessings. I was studying so much on the Atonement and after doing such a thing you feel this HUGE desire to just confess EVERYTHING. So I prayed and I prayed to know what I was doing wrong. And after dinner I come to class and Syster ronndahl (the swedish teacher) walked in with tears in her eyes and I just felt this huge spirit coming from her and I decided to listen. She gave us D&C 4 to read and she emphasized verse 5. And faith hope charity and love with an eye single to the glory of god, qualify him for this work. And with tears in her eyes and the spirit so strong in the room... of course... I began to cry! I am so thankful for Heavenly Father and how he can micromanage everyones lives.. and through teaching and being in tuned to the spirit, we can become renewed! He has so much love for us that he sent his son to die for ALL of our mistakes! I'm so grateful for that and the opportunity I have to share that message to SWEDEN! I love you all and am so thankful that Russell is allright and for all of your prayers! I just can't wait to be in Sweden in no time! I love you all!

jag alska alla er!

Aldste Webster

Letter... October 21, 2009

Hej min familj!

I would like to start out by saying that I have been taking pictures and I will be sending them next week! Most likely by a CD put I don't know how to send that type of mail. ANYWHO. The pronunciation of Aldste is like Ehldsteh same as Norwegian. But I was sop excited when I found out that Brant is going to the Phillipines! That fits his personality and just HIM so well! Congrats to Tyler & Con for getting their G powers! I'm proud of those rookies! But seeing how Russell is going to be born here very shorty it would be nice to recieve many a picture ASAP! But you guys are so funny with you're Vampire teeth! barely fits in Andrews mouth... Laura looks way scary. the Jakes look a little down-syndromish. And whoosie has got such the whoosie face on! Oh man I love you all! P.S. tell sam to shave. So what's with momma driving a Mazda RX?! you should just take that car (brand new) and I would be a happy boy! But i'm going to miss my audi... all of it's seizures... break downs... over-heating... mmm good times. But thanks for already getting on that! I didn't see Jessica that went to Sweden on her mission but maybe next monday? I think I had her the first monday I was here but I can't remember. So I'm going to be sending you some pictures and don't worry.. I got a haircut TODAY! And boy how it feels good! Congrats to little nossa senhora da mckenna da silva and andrew! love those little toots! Yay for getting a tuff shed! I can't wait to see what that looks like when I get back! Twill be dope! But this week for me... let me tell you!
Nick Romero from the RC answered us. We were talking to him about how grace isn't the only thing we need to be saved. We told him in Eccl 12:14 how the Lord will bring every WORK into judgement. And then in 1 Peter 1:13-17 how we are judged by grace and works. Then we quoted some scriptures from the Book of Mormon to say that we belive the same thing! And that they don't counter-act each other. But the only response he seemed to have was that our views of salvation are wrong and he loves us... but were going to the bad place if we keep on thinking the way we do. So me and Elder Chester have been praying a lot to know what we should do and I have been searching the scriptures to find what exactly he needs to hear. I was thinking we could give him Mosiah 3:12 and them give him Ephesians 2:8 and James 2:17-18. Just to prove that they teach the same thing. And Then Romans 4:16 says it is of Faith that it be by grace. And Faith w/o works is dead. Seems pretty simple to me... but then we thought maybe it's not getting through to him.. So we might just give him 1 Cor 2:5 and say hey... don't rely on us... Pray and ask heavenly father to know the truth. And then give him James 1:5. So were just praying hard on what to say to him! But were doing fine!
In choir we sang Jesus once of Humble Birth. and I was asked to say the opening prayer! (nervous gas) But it was soo AWESOME!
This sunday Richard I Heaton came to us and spoke on Teaching by the spirit. And what really stuck out to me was when he said teaching by the spirit is to Say, Feel, and Do what the Lord would Say, Feel, and Do if he was teaching. I think that is so true because if we always have the most Christlike mind-set I think we will feel prompted to do what he has done. We also had a little activity in class where we Asked questions and then we read some questions from the scriptures on how Jesus asks questions! and how AMZING those are! He asks questions to the people that already contain the answers! BRILLIANT! You can also tell when you have been teaching by the spirit when you learn something which you yourself, taught. Then the Tuesday night devotional was Elder and Sister Robbins of the Seventy. He talked about how we always have to have a Vision, Goal, and Plans. And if we do that, then we will be successfull and the Lord will place people in my path. a quote that stuck out to me though... was, " Success is going from failure to Failure w/o any loss of enthusiasm!" That is true! We know we are successful when things come between us and our objective.. and we go through them w/o a loss of enthusiasm! AHH!! I just want to get out to SWEDEN right now! But I pray that the lord will prepare the way for when I get there... Im going to hit the ground running! Always positive and doing what the Lord would do! I love you all and thanks for all of those who wrote me!

Love you all!
Ha en bra vecka!
Aldste Salima Webster

Letter... October 14, 2009

Dearest Family of mine! Thanks to all those who wrote me! First off I would like to send me best wishes to Robbie! He is such an awesome guy and he deserves better than that! That made me feel so bad! I will be praying for him! On a better note, so the Utes are ranked 24th and BYU is ranked what? Who did the U beat to get us back up there?! Yeah for the 22nd when little Russell is going to be born! So exciting! make sure to send pics! Happy Birthday to Andrew on the 18th and Nossa Senhora McKenna da silva the next day! So fun! This week I was able to find Chase Elwood! Tell his parents he's doing great and we did take a picture together which I will be sending to ya'll shortly... along with some other pics. Thanks for the update on Brock and all of the info he gave about Sweden! That will come to great use later im sure! Happy Birthday to the WHOOSIE tomorrow! I love you dad! You're the best dad anyone could ask for! Thanks for everything! Thanks for the treats this weekend and the CINNAMON ROLLS! very delicious! But I have a lot of candy now... so I'll let ya know when I run out! So how did closing on the house go yesterday! Congrats to Jake & Swa! Thanks for the pictures of the little preciouses in their costumes! So cute! And along with the pictures of the fam! Very much appreciated! Oh and by the way.. Mike's talk REALLY WAS AMAZING! I ran out of time last week but it has been very favored here in the MTC (let him know that). Yay for connor and parents going to the Church Sites! That was such an AWESOME testimony building time for me! Loved it! Oh yeah... make sure not to tell me about the office anymore.. I kinda want it as a surprise when I get home. So this last thursday at the RC we were chatting with an 18 year old who really was surching for the truth... And he said he would belive in the book of mormon if we were to answer his doubts on some subjects. So we WITHOUT HESITATION asked him what his questions were. He had 2. the first one was about Repentance and what he needed to do to be forgiven. And we answered that and cleared it up for him. His last question was on grace and he thought that that's all that we need to do to be saved was by grace. (his question was on us being saved by grace after all that we can do 2 Nephi 25:23 ) and so we had to leave but he gave us his email and so we are going to write him back tomorrow!We gave him Faith w/o works is dead but that still didnt answer his question on grace. So for personal study I looked at grace in True to the Faith and in the Bible Dictionary and it answered his question! Although we told him that we have to do OUR part in order to be saved. So I found SO many scriptures in the Bible and B.O.M. that say that we cannot recieve his grace until we have excersized good works and dont "all that we can do"! HELLO! the answer was right in front of him... he just needed to know where it was in the Bible. So tomorrow were going to answer that question and hopefully it turns out for the best! Missionary work is SO EXCITING! The other day we taught the 1st Lesson in Swedish and challenged our "investigator" to read the introduction and and testimonies at the beginning! Yay for the gift of tongues! So sunday our fireside was by Stephen B. Allen. He is quite the entertaining guy! But he gave us many ways to effectively use PMG and about depression and stuff. Good talk. Then tuesday we got the priviledge to hear from Sister & Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy. He talked about SOOO much! Time flew by quick! But the main message of it all was that we need to teach our investigators to PRAY and READ first and then any trial they have after with keeping the commandments, will come easier for them. He taught us to teach our investigators from the START and how much that can build Faith. He compared 1 Nephi 1-3 to the story of the Restoration and how we should teach from the Book of Mormon the way the Lord inteded us to read from it! start out with basics of Family, and knowledge of the lard and build on top of that. He said the day before he went on his mission he was scared, and the his mom came in.. came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around him and said, " Sweetie, I promise everything will be all right!" And he compared that to Alma 56:44-48. Great story. Reminded me of my cute mother! Love you MOM! Anyways, I love you ALL and thanks for writing me! Keep it up! Ha en bra vecka!
Hej do!
Aldste Webster

Letter... October 7, 2009

Hej San!

What a week it has been! This week has been quite the spiritual week and so here it goes!
So let me just tell you all that I HIGHLY recommend prayers in the temple. Last week I prayed for many things and guess what? My prayers were answered through teachers, personal study and MOSTLY general conference! But first let me start out by saying congrats to jake and swa on their aniversary on sunday! love you two! Thanks to mom and dad for sending me another copy of my patriarchal blessing, stamps, address book and CANDY! The cookies were gone in two days they were delicious! But the candy and cookies were highly appreciated. For Conference sunday we didn't have choir (for obvious reasons) but we did have a fireside! It was pretty good but I could tell that they probably didn't put that much effort into it. They talk about how singing hymns effects our spirituality (so true) but people just lined up and shared their favorite hymns and we sang them! Pretty cool... but interesting. I'm so stoked for all of those temples being built! An elder sat next to me and said that he was FROM Ft. Lauderdale and he started to get teary eyed because now there is a temple 5 minutes away instead of going to the Orlando one! What an awesome spirit when they announced the temples and everyone cheered because the temples were either in their mission or where they lived! good times. I feel so bad for Brandon Hellberg that stinks so bad that he snapped his COLLA BONE! I love that kid. Thanks to Ailin for sending that poem to me in spanish! It helped out a lot! Love you both! You guys are so silly with grabbing the pillow with my ugly face on it and sleeping with it! But you gotta do what you gotta do! I would love to see those pictures from halloween! haha I love those kids! And... oh yes WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT GETTING A USED CAR! but... we all learn from our mistakes (hopefully) and won't do it again right?! haha Also I wouldn't mind just a pic of the whole family just to pin up on my wall or whatevs. Oh and about my rearview mirror that pops off all the time so dont worry about it... fix it.. then sell it! haha Oh and David and Laurie you two are so clever! that was funny because when I read that you guys set up tents for conference like king benjamin's address I just barely read that the day before! truly inspired parents! Anyways... Olympics in RIO?! are they crazy? do the WANT to kill off the foreign population?! well I'm not going to lie I would really LOVE to go back to brazil for that (hint hint). Now what really boosted my week was CONFERENCE! What an awesome time that was! You could feel the spirit so strong in that room! Grandfather's talk was amazing because I was just studying about Asking... Seeking... And Knocking! I loved every minute of that! But that's so true if we have the faith to know that we will recieve an answer and the "veil will be taken away, and our eyes if understanding will open" I see that happen ALL THE TIME HERE! Elder Bednar's TRULY AMAZING! Express your love, and show it. Bear Testimony.. but not only that... LIVE IT. Be CONSISTANT I know that if we do that "out of small things, procedeth that which is great." Elder andersen's was SOO GOOD on repentance and I bet that happens all the time where people repent but still feel the sadness AFTER still! I just studied today in 2 Nephi 2? I think and that just explains about EVERYTHING we need to do to trust in the lord. Elder Andersen said "we won't forget of our sins, but the lord will" Repentance isn't just turning away from the sin but COMING UNTO CHRIST! which is our purpose here! But what hit me the MOST was Elder Holland's talk on the DIVINITY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON! And then he went about saying how Joseph Smith gave his life.. left his family behind and everything he had for this book! Which led me to a question that I always ask myself... if he did all of this... and translated by himself... how could the book of mormon and all the blessings that come with it... NOT BE TRUE! I love that man I was writing down so much and after a while my chin dropped and I could do nothing but just sit there and soak it all it! What inspired prophets, apostles, and general authorites we have! And the amazing spirit I felt when the Mo Tab sanh " I know that my redeemer lives"!

Well im out of time but I love you all!
All is well!
Hey da!

Aldste Webster

Letter... September 30, 2009

Hej Familj! Hu mor du?
So After I emailed you guys the whole zone went to the temple. And what an AMAZING experience that was! You can really take advantage of the time in the celestial room to pray about the next week ahead of you! And BOY did that HELP! All of this stuff that im going to say is going to be in random order because a half hour if such a short time. And I have to read all of the emails I recieved. So when you answer my email's make sure you answer via dearelder.com because I dont have time to read and write. SO WRITE ON DEARELDER.COM and write it separately because it gets confusing! Ok... So I'm thinking I lost my patriarchal blessing... I'll keep looking for it but I'll let you know when i REALLY can't find it and ask you to make another lamanated copy? Oh yes... so make sure you guys tell me when peoples birthday's are because I forget. And important events like birth of a child or something? When are grandfather and Mike (elder ringwood) speaking? We had Mission Conference this Sunday because next sunday is GENERAL CONFERENCE! Im way stoked for that. But mission conference was awesome The MTC presidency spoke. One of the main things that struck me is that we have to remember that our investigator's background is different than ours. So We need to start off assuming that they know nothing and build the lesson plan upon THEIR needs. We teach people not lessons! And we are to humble ourselves before the lord (D&C 82:3). Then, later that day we had the Sunday Night Fireside which was also amazing because the person who taught was ROBERt P. SWESON former mission president of the Brazil Curitiba Mission! And now he works at the missionary department. And he was sooo inspiring because he pretty much resolved every problem that a missionary in the MTC would encounter. Like: Why am I being called STATE SIDE? Why is my companion so different? He says that having a companion thqat is different than you is better because you learn from your companion and he learns from you. Our lives w/o trials is like a kite w/o strings. Strings keep us in line and the wind (spirit) keeps you afloat. Without the spirit the kite crashes. Without trials the kite goes no where. Gud senda oss till jorden for att lara och vexa. God send us to each so we can learn and grow. TRUTH. later that night we watched a video by Elder Holland talking about teaching. I never knew that I could feel the spirit so strongly through a video. But when you're here in the MTC you would give anything to hear advice about teaching from an apostle of the lord. 1. ask, speak, knock (spiritually) 2. Teach from the scriptures 3. Teach w/ by the spirit 4. Help the learner assume responsibility for learning. 5. TESTIFY (alma 5). But this week has just been filled with Inspiring classes. Large group meetings and workshops and firesides and devotionals and now... GENERAL CONFERENCE. I dont think i've even been so stoked for a conference! Well my investigator hasn't really written back anything. BUT I know he will be going to church he just hasn't said anything about it. I hope I inspired him. BUT we found ANOTHER legit investigator at the RC and he wanted to learn more. So elder chester and I wrote him an email pretty much on the first lesson but adapted to his needs! I can't wait for a response! the TEC went pretty well... it's just hard to teach to an "investigator" that really is just there to criticize. It's hard to communicate by the spirit to a normal person. But my companion and I prayed hard that we might be able to teach by the spirit and sure ENOUGH! I bore my testimony and I saw the Light that came intop that members eyes. I believe we were both edified. Personal study i've been studying about some Christlike attributes. I'm for them. not enough time to tell about it but its going well! By the way, anything that's new in bountiful or salt lake dont tell me.. like construction or new restaurants or whatever. I would like to be surprised when I get back! But yes tell me about sports (sam) and yeah.. just stuff about family. You have permission to send my emails to everyone. I dont really care who reads them. Thats good to hear that you guys (DLERA) got a trampoline so reed can excersize. haha I'll miss his cheeks dearly. whats the new baby's name going to be again? What mission does B-man go to? and Davi? and whats the mavro's mail address? It would be nice if you send me an address book so I can keep track. I have seen Sister Hansen here and Tyler Peck. And more of Danilo so everything is quite exciting here! Jake, sam, swa, mom, dad, ailin. Make sure you guys write back on dearelder.com because I have no time to read your letters SORRY! But thats whats going down around here! Actually... I really have no time... So if you guys can.. can you resend your emails you sent me via dear elder? sorry. LOVE YOU ALL! ALL IS WELL!
PEACE

ALDSTE WEBSER

Letter... September 23, 2009

Hey Familia! This week has been an amazing experience for me! Challenging for sure, but awesome! Well, once you guys dropped me off I went through all of these buildings and I got my MTC blue card and all of that good stuff (card, planner, handbook, swedish Book of Mormon, Preach my gospel, and language tools). Thanks to MOM for the 2 dear Elder letters, photo album, and the little card that says that we GOT A new BMW?!?! Well... I need to know further info on that to approve... Because I love BMW's but if its got mileage like the audi (which I hope you have burned by now) then I dont approve! Well im sure Dad knows what's best but who knows, maybe it will be sold by the time I get home anyways! Thanks SOO much for the photo album! They are awesome pictures and will be of great use im sure! P.S. I don't know where my Priesthood line of authority paper is... I haven't really looked but is it in the green folder of important papers? I'll check but if you could mail (not email) me the response that would be great! Well, all of the meals here are decent so nothing to point out there. But this week I have seen and talked to Danilo a lot and I saw Seth Cope and the Jackson's but I never got a chance to talk with them! we'll see if I see them this week! Well as you can tell, my P-day is on wednesday and we go to the temple around 3! So we will be going in about 3 hours. I'm sure that will be an awesome experience with my district. I can't really go into a lot of detail about my week but Gym is way fun and we went to the Referral Center (RC) our first weekend and it was filled with outbound calls... answering machine after answering machine and so on. But after all of there trials there popped up a CHAT! I was chatting with a guy that wanted to go back to church because he hasn't gone in a year because of drinking problems and stuff. But before I could answer him we HAD TO LEAVE! so I asked one of the guys there to take over for me and then I left. So then we went back to class because I was bummed that I didn't get to talk with that guy and an hour passed by and guess who walked in?! the guy from the RC told me to email him back because the man gave him his email address! So the next day I went back and I bore my testimony on the restoration and how going to church has affected my life for the good and he was just scared that people would look at him weird. But I promised him that they would accept anyone with open arms and welcome him back into their ward! I'm planning on going back today and looking for his response!SUNDAY: I hopped in the choir (of course) and we sung a song called "behold, the wounds in his hands" AMAZING song! But sunday devotional was just AMAZING! we didn't get to sing. But yeah. sorry I have 5 minutes left so I gotta wrap up but My companions name is Aldste Chester and our whole district is just 4 guys me, chester, aldste jorgenson from AZ and aldste Blaylock from North Virginia! Very spiritual people and my compaion is probably the funniest guy ever!P.S. I'm district leader. We're having good times. But trying times. so PRAY for me! Tuesday Devotional was awesome and we got to sing that song that we practiced on sunday and it was AMAZING! but HARRAH FOR ISRAEL! I love you all! I get to check the mail twice a day and I can recieve from ANYONE I can only answer on wednesdays but I LOVE YOU ALL! and siblings.. you can WRITE too!!

Sincerely your's
Aldste Webster
Jesu Kristi Kyrka av
Sista Dagars Heliga

LOVE YOU ALL!
beijos!