Vägledning‏

This week was a pretty average week with a lot of ups and downs but I am really thankful that we were able to go to the conference in Malmö and feel the spirit and receive answers to my questions!

But we will talk about our investigators first!

One of our investigators whose name is Sebastian is a really interesting man. He comes from Ireland but was raised in Japan and then moved to sweden half way through his life. He was most comfortable with English so we were able to teach him that way! We had met him twice before and he had been really curious to know which religion is true and he had told us that he had gone around to every single one and tried what they said and had never been able to get an answer if they were true. So many of his questions involved If God exists then why does this happen? and had his mind really set on that he has tried so many ways so there is no way the Mormons could have the way. After we went through the 1st and 2nd lessons what really hit him was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We read through Alma 32 with him and his friend that he brought with him... and by the end of this lesson we were blessed with the spirit to be able to answer all of their questions. He was finally able to see that Faith is a lot more than belief... that Faith is a principle of Action. Which is something that we talked about when Elder Snow spoke. In life we go through this process of having a desire, acting upon our desires, and then receiving some type of confirmation/assurance to know if it is a "good seed". He was then able to realize that it was nothing that we could show him that would get him to believe in what we say... but its in the doing that we recieve our answers. HE (just like many teen-agers) was not able to commit to reading and praying and making the necessary changes to receive the True happiness the gospel brings. So we sent them on their way with Books of Mormon in their hands and with a commitment to when they have time and desire happiness, to read pray and call our number when they were ready. It was AMAZING! We felt really good that we had tried all we could to INVITE them to COME unto Christ. He's a good man.
Somayeh from Iran we have visited a couple of times during the week and has gone from listening.. to reading.. to reading and praying... and accepted the commitment to be baptized. But she did not want to put a date on it because she doesnt know where she is going to be during the summer.... so we asked her if she would get baptized before the summer and she said she would but she is finishing up school right now and is really busy and wants to get done with school before she commits with a date. I guess it's just a matter of time but she has a desire to be baptized.
Tony from Iraq had us over for a lesson and we showed him Ezekiel 37 and then a scripture from the Book of Mormon and connected the two. He was really impressed by the message but it turns out that he has now been having us over for the benefit it has been to his financial life to have us over. And just wants us over for that and does not desire to change his beliefs, it's too bad but we have to move on to progressing investigators.
Princess came to church last week and then came to a soccer activity on Saturday and said she would come to church... but she got a last minute call from work and she had to work. So we will probably be teaching her this week and see how her praying is going and explain the Faith process to her. She is looking positive too!
Claudette is a referral machine. We have been going by her house to teach her but she is never home. But 2 different people have answered the door and they both have said that she wasn't there so we asked them if they would be interested and they gave us their numbers and said they were! AMAZING! We went by her another time and she was there with her romanian friend who she has been reading the Book of Mormon with and we just so happened to have a Romanian Book of Mormon with us and we gave it to her and said we could meet sometime.
We were able to go on exchanges with Halmstad and me and Elder Olsen really enjoyed our time together, and were really able to contact and teach by the spirit. It seems to be a lot easier to do things by the spirit with someone you get along with really well. I think that is relevant to every companionship that you are in. It really is important to be in Unity first, be obedient, worthy, work hard and then we are enabled to teach by the spirit to commit people to come unto Christ through BAPTISM. And Elder Takahashi (my previous companion) and elder barlow were in Växjö and he got to see both Pan and Marvin when he was here so that was nice for him!
Soumitro is doing really well but he isn't keeping his commitments and really busy with school so we have to hold off from him for a while.
Other than that I was really able to enjoy Elders Snow and Causse (and wives)'s visit. One of my favorite things from that was how central our purpose to Baptize really is and how we need to do everything within our power to HELP the people "take up their bed and Walk" and to make sure that we do everything to receive referrals, and take every opportunity to commit someone to Baptism so that the answer will "be upon their heads", and sharpening our sickle by being obedient to reap the rewards of our Faith.

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Well it was amazing to receive such great emails from you guys and little Truman sounds like he's doing amazing! I received my Easter package yesterday and those little SLara chocolates are so FESTIVE! haha I will make sure to chomp their heads off. Hopefully I will be able to get my other package next week when Elder Teixeira visits!!!! Because it not only has to be under 4lbs but has to fit through this little slot in our door so I hope to be getting that soon! Thank you so much for that! That is so CRAZY that Riley Dean is out on the mission now! man how time flies! And it's pretty sweet to hear that david escorted him! I remember a russian elder escorted me so that is neat. Thanks for sending those AMAZING pictures of the homies at the reception and Ri's farewell! As far as Mother's day goes... its a tough situation.... because I really want to talk to you on THE day... but ya know Dad is seeking first the kingom of God so I can't complain. I guess I can just ask President this week about that but I would say since dad gets out of church on the 16th at 10... I would say 18.00 my time on the 16th? We'll just call that the plan for now... but if not I'll let you know next week. I can't remember when President Teixeira is going to come on monday or tuesday or wednesday of next week... But just don't worry... the latest I'll write you is on tuesday next week. So we'll figure it out then! And YES I was able to see Elder Winegar yesterday and he is looking GOOD as ever! I was able to see Elder Chester and Jorgensen my MTC homies so it was really a good time! They came down to Malmö for Elder Snow and this time Malmö Zone is going up to Göteborg for Elder Teixeira! So we'll be seeing each other AGAIN! its AWESOME! So hopefully I will be sending pictures home this week. Sorry I have been slacking you just never really find time to MAKE a package on the mission. Maybe today... hmmm we'll see! HAIGH! Well... as fun as it is to keep babbling on... I have nothing else to say! but I love my Family and really thankful for the opportunity that I have to be on a mission right now and I have been learning WAY too much! haha it's just been amazing!

Keep populating the earth, family! Be smart... Be yourselves... Be the BOMB like you always are!

Love you all!

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