I STAY!!

Elder Stoddard, Joseph Ammed and I after his confirmation

ME at a beautiful place

Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL DAY! Well hello dearest family, A new calling, a new companion, SAME PLACE!

President called us yesterday morning and told me that I was to STAY and Train another missionary, there are going to be 13 coming in so areas are opening up, disticts reforming, and I have been called to be Distict Leader over Alingsås and Trolhättan. I am pretty excited to be training again... but not so sure about Distict Leader. Äldste Winegar will be staying in Malmö. We have a guess, the transfer after this one will be a THIRTEEN WEEK TRANSFER, yes that is including the months of December, January, and February. Coldest, darkest, and longest transfer. Also Christmas will be happening during that transfer. So if we are good little boys, and plead president to let us be together for that transfer and if it's the will of the Lord, We could be doing some COOL combined Winegar Webster Christmas call! Anyways... Elder Stoddard will be going to Jönköping with my old companion elder Barlow! What a great opportunity. Transfers are always so exciting! Hopefully I'll be able to fill the shoes the Lord has given me! Go UTES and i'm glad BYU is horrible WHILE IM GONE! (not) Anywho...

This week has been amazing and there has been so many miracles I can't believe it. This past week we have found 2 Serbian families who we have taught the restoration to. Both of them Are pretty positive and Besides that.. young couples with 1 kid each! Super COOL! LAst sunday an old member who moved back into the ward from Congo brought with him a friend. We were able to teach this friend whose name is David (Elvis Kika is his african name). A couple of days later we asked some Inspired Questions to get him to reflect about his belief in Christ as his Savior, the sprit was strong, we showed him the Restoration DVD, And he knew that it was true. Since it is a very rare thing to find an investigator who accepts the Restoration, we challenged him to Baptism and gave him an option of two weeks. He picked the earlier one! October 9th. This kid who is 15 really has been Humbled in the early years of his life, and was brought here NO DOUBT to recieve the Gospel. After a while without meeting Allan from India we were able to meet with him. Turns out that as we assigned him to read the Book of Mormon, he had a really busy schedule except one day. This one day he used to read HALF of the Book of Mormon. We met with him. He believed it to be the Word of God, and we challenged him to prepare to be baptized on September 9th, he said "Yes, that would be nice!". IT's an amazing thing what the spirit of the Lord can do to change a persons heart. AND IT DOES! If you remember Li Chao, who had grown up Atheist all of his life, as we had knelt down in humble, and sincere prayer together with him, he was able to feel the spirit. And was then and there willing to be baptized. ALSO on September 9th.

We CAN expect mircales! We just need to have that eye of Faith, and GET OUT OF THE LORDS WAY! Being obedient, Constantly Striving to do all you can to accomplish your purpose will TRULY guide you to those who are prepared. Just sitting here and looking back on all of these mircales really Humbles me, The Lord constantly lets me know that I am on HIS errand, and to BE STILL and KNOW that HE IS GOD. That really is a calming scripture. This upcoming week will be super busy with General Conference (Sweden has a goal to be the highest non-member attendance in Europe) and getting all of our investigators to come and "put their money on a prophet" is going to be an amazing task with a Brand new missionary. Conference will not be broadcast in our chapel so we are going to be taking our investigators to a members house. Tonight I will be going to Göteborg and then to STOCKHOLM. I will stay the night there and then the next morning will have a Trainer's meeting (with Sister Page who will also be training in LUND.. don't worry dad we will get a picture). And then we will have a full day of teaching and advertizing General Conference to our investigators. This weekened we are planning to have at least 18 investigators show up to one of the sessions. So we will see how it goes!

You will hear from me more next week on Monday. But just know that I love you all and thanks for everyone who wrote me! I got your emails and really appreciate your Love! I hope the family gets over that Bug going around and hopefully the one year package will be there when I go to stockholm tonight! IT's getting colder now, its changing from green to orange and red. BEAUTIFUL trees. And waking up to dark mornings AGAIN! ('tis the Season!)

Love,

Äldste Webster

P.S. I might be getting a coat, and a camera(maybe). So... yeah.

Mom if you could send me thermals that would be great! (not G's just normal ones)

FUNDAMENTALS SHARPENING 2

Hello dearest family! I can't believe it. I have gone over the hill. It's weird to think of it as a hill though... because things won't be going downhill from here but it's more kinda a 104 lap race. Taking it 1 week (lap) at a time! Things are still going great in Borås. I love this ward! They are honestly the most christlike ward and are always so willing to help. It really is fullfilling the prophecy that President Monson had when he dedicated the land of Sweden for preaching the gospel. He said that when the members and the missionary force combine their efforts in this GREAT cause things that have been impossible will become possible. I KNOW that to be true. So many miracles have happened here because of the amazing people and the Lord is just using us as conduets for His Work to be accomplished. I am thankful to be a part of it!

Sharpening this time was twice as long because they taught 2 of the fundamentals in one sharpening but we loved it! We talked about the role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion and revelation through prayer! The more you are on your mission the more you see that that is what you are going for. You are helping the investigators recognize, understand, and provide an environment where they can feel the Holy Ghost. Once they are able to recieve personal revelation for themselves, there is not much else that needs to be done accept teach them the doctrine. As missionaries you just kinda put them in the right direction but it is up to them to take the STEPS of Faith to get them somewhere! There is no other work that gives greater happiness than this one.

After sharpening we were able to meet with these two new students from India who have just moved in. They were able to come to Joseph's Baptism and feel the spirit there. We talked to them about what they were searching after and the things that they want most in life. They were very sincere to us, and because they were the spirit was able to tell us what to say. They asked us if Baptism really could cleanse them from sin, and we told them it could and how it is possible. By the end of the lesson they desired to be baptized. They wanted to know what they needed to know/do to really be cleansed by His Atonement. We told them that if they would pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, they would know that this church really does contain the FULLNESS of the Gospel and that Baptism really could do that to them. Allan and Rejish are there names and we will be meeting them today and hopefully setting up a date with them!

Alinda has been doing great. Bishop has been wanteing to talk with her and her kids so that they could start investigating and be baptized with her on the 23rd of October. She has so much to learn but we feel like she is on track.

Li has really change now. Because of sharpening and the emphasis on prayer we decided to try it out. He had always felt good while we were there but has never felt the spirit while He prays and while He reads. We we read the BOM with him a little bit, about King Lamoni going down on his knees and expressing his desires from his heart, and so we asked if we could kneel in prayer and for him to do the same. The spirit was strong, he told us that he felt peaceful and that God was right there beside him. The POWER of PRAYER! Amazing. His belief in God has increased SO much and is on his WAY!

Michelle had never understood that in this church we have agency, once she realized that it seemed like a burden was lifted off her shoulders. We were able to get her to recognize that she has only felt these feelings as she has been with us and as she has read and prayed. Which made her really feel that God exists. Both Li and Michelle do believe but just have a hard time changing with they have been raised to believe. But they are both on Track.

We met with Henrik with a member and it went really well. Like most swede's he is really into meeting us for the knowledge. But we really feel like he is searching after truth but just doesn't want to share his feelings. (typical Swede) He is doing great though.

Tariq from Pakistan is from the penecostal church and is really believing, luckily he doesn't shut down after we talk about the Restoration but he commited to pray about that.

We have also been focusing on our 4 New Converts and making sure that they are being fed by the Word of God, and are really enduring to the End. Zeina has had an internship on Sundays but quit that last week and came to shurch and got D&C and Pof GP in ARABIC! (who knew?) Zaki has also had an internship on Sundays and we told him to talk with his boss to stop working on Sundays and will be stopping as of next sunday. Colette bore her testimony in church the other week and has been really holding on to the Rod. We were able to go to Joseph's home for the first time (he lives out in the wilderness) and taught him about the priesthood and blessed his home to be a place where the spirit could be. They should all be there next week!

Church this sunday we had 5 investigators planned to come to church but only 1 came. However, the one that came asked us how the baptism was... and how baptism works, and what happens after baptism. We were able to teach him a little about that but he will be going back to India for 8 weeks from Sunday so we will try our best to meet him. I gave a talk about Jesus Christ: Our Light, Life, and Hope. only 5 mintues but I think this was the first time that I gave a talk without word for word in front of me. It felt good!

Well, this week has just been a good time for reflection and just thinking about some things I would like to accomplish in this coming year. The mission really does prepare you for life. You learn so much about the Atonement, the Gospel, Obedience, the Spirit, Families, and Accountability and so much more that it really just makes me never want to leave. I am glad I chose to serve the Lord. There is no other place I would rather be. This is His Work and His Glory, and we are a part of it! And it is TRUE! jag älskar dig också!

Love,

Äldste Webster

P.S. Go UTES!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!! PICTURES!!

Soooo... Grandfather/Daddy/ Elder Nelson and Wendy just returned from

their sixteen day trip to Europe.
I just received these great pictures in an email from Grandfather/Daddy!
Don't they all look amazing??? SERIOUSLY!!! Happy Year Aldste Webster!
What a great way to start a new year on a mission! Enjoy!

Happy Grandson with his happy Grandfather! What a sweet treat!

Grandfather showing Adam his new I-pad! The Wad approved!
Two cute Missionaries! Aldste Stoddard and Aldste Webster.

SOOOO cute!!

Aldste Wad, Wendy and the Grandfather!

At the Mission home piano!!

The Nelsons, Aldstes, and P/S Anderson
The Aldstes' with their Mission President and Sister Anderson.
Receiving a gift of Ligonberry Jam... YUMMY!
The transfer board!
Just a little slice of heaven! Thanks for the great pictures!
WE LOVE THEM!!!

Coming soon... September 16, 2010....

ONE great week!

Hello dearest family! This week has gone by so fast! It's amazing how fast transfers go when you train! My greenie Äldste Stoddard is doing awesome... were just really trying to stick with Swedish out of the apartment so him and I can get better at it! But yeah, last week when we ate at the Anderson's house with grandfather we had a LARGE dish of Salmon... some salad and some baked potatoes which was delicious! Anyways.... About the one year thing... (thanks mom for the reminder)... I was talking to the secretaries and they said that my date has been moved up a week. So apparently I had a year left on September 9th. :( Kinda lame but this too is the Lords will so just gotta take it humbly...

This week has been great. One day we went out to a random place to teach another serbian family... we already felt bad for taking so much time out of the day for that and come to find out THEY were being sent back to Sweden and they thought that we could help them out with money... so on the train ride back we were kinda discouraged... As the bus stopped to pick up some people on the way a man from Germany came in the bus with his sketchy English and says.. Does this take me to Boras? As he came on the bus he sat right next to me and we were able to talk about why he was here.. why I was here... and what we were going to do about it! So he told us that he was taking a biking trip around Sweden and his knee was really hurting so he was going to stop in Borås and wait until his knee got better. We told him who we were and he had gotten 2 Books of Mormon in Germany already and Elder Stoddard happened to have another one. As we got off the bus we asked him if he would be interested in meeting with the missionaries in Vienna (where he studies) and he told us that "It is TOO much of a coincidence to ignore!) So he took the 3rd Book of Mormon to read while he was injured and we got his number and referred him to that mission where he lives! Tender Mercies! Also another way random and really small tender mercy... One day I was not too stoked to be going to this one investigators house.. We were on the bus... I was looking outside the bus and I passed this one lady that was walking outside the bus...and she looked at me and SMILED! I have no idea why... but that honestly made me the happiest person ever... Because usually we are faced with so much opposition... Someone to go out of their way and smile... It just felt good... ANYWAYS..

Henrik... one of our Swedish investigators that we were able to teach the Word of Wisdom too... totally understood that the way we can know if a commandment comes by God... is to TRY it! And he commited to it! Awesome! He also came to Joseph's Baptism and it was great... turns out he knows a guy in our ward who was there!

Alinda from Sierra Leone is doing great. We were able to ask her questions involving Baptism... come to find out she didn't know that much on the why behind baptism! As we told her that we are Baptized FOR the remission of Sin she was all for it! We set up a date for her and she said it was too soon... we asked her when she would like.. she said no date... but promised in 2010... After a while of telling her about Faith... we told her to pray about October 23rd... And so the closing prayer we told her to ask Heavenly Father about her date SPECIFICALLY.... and she did! The spirit was felt and so now we have that said.. with prayers and Faith and Fasting we all know that this will be good. She aswell came to the baptism... And our New convert Colette was such a friend to Alinda and amazing!

Joseph Ammed's BAPTISM on September 11, 2010 was AMAZING! He chose our ward mission leader to baptize and me to confirm! It was an amazing experience... not many people from the ward came... but enough to make him still feel comfortable... I kinda like to the confirmations more... You feel that special Power as you say "receive the Holy Ghost" and it puts a big smile on your face! He was so HAPPY and looking forward to the sacrament to MEAN something for him! It is amazing to see really how the Atonement can change EVERYONES countenances to a clean... innocent... and christlike look. It was amazing.. he also asked us where he could pay his tithing... he gave it to bishop kinda sad.. (because he has VERY little) but THEN and there Bishop bore a VERY strong testimony to him and made him feel like a million bucks! I LOVE THIS WARD!

Other investigators are doing great... loving the work... Finding a bunch of new investigators from India... new students coming in. Sharpening is tomorrow and today we are at Göteborg witha combined Zone activity!

Love you all so much!

Love,

Äldste Webster

One lonely little picture!

Us drawing the Plan on the ground. Sorry... no pictures from my camera when grandfather was here.. I was a serious slacker.

But sister and president and grandfather took many!

Weekend in Stockholm!

Kära familj och vänner,

First I want to thank the whoosie for the Atonement Study plans, those will be soo exciting to go through during my mission! And congrats again to swa and Jake to the new little baby! cuteness. A shout out to my lovely friends Connor and Lucas for their birthdays yesterday! Two great men that have really been GREAT POSITIVE influences in my life. I will be writing both of them for a little more personal notes but anyways... Also happy birthday to Grandfather on thursday! I remember his last birthday very well! (weird). He of course has always been an amazing man to look up to and has changed the lives of so many people, I would be the happiest man if I could help at least as half as many as he has! Thank you!

This week was a definite highlight of my mission! Before I talk about grandfather's visit I'll go through the week a little bit.

Li from China we were able to talk about his desire to spread the gospel to the people in China. For the past months he has been telling us that he hasn't felt the spirit while reading or praying. But he told us that he had felt really good while we are with him, when he comes to church and he has a strong desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked him Why he would have such a desire to spread something he didn't believe in. So we read through Moroni 7 a little bit with him. How him spreading it to his friends is charity... and the hope that he has is that they will believe in the message. So we told him that he may not realize it but he really does believe that there is a God. Where there is Charity and Hope... Faith is there also right? We told him to compare it to his favorite food. If he really liked it and was shring it with his friends... that would mean that he trusts that it will taste good for them. We asked, "would you tell your friend about something that you didn't believe in yourself?" He said no and we likened it to the Gospel... Why would he share it with other people if he didn't believe in it? He agreed. So we told him to read Alma 32 AGAIN with the small belief that he has and to apply it and he said he would. We will be meeting him tonight so we will see how that goes.

Henrik a SWEDISH MAN that we called one time answered and we were able to teach him the 1st lesson because all of his questions came from the 1st lesson. HE, like many swedes are in it for the knowledge, so by asking him questions it made him realize that this could actually apply to HIM and we are here to help HIM and not just inform, but to OFFER salvation! He is a big fan of reading and wanted to know about the Pearl of Great price, so we taught him the Plan of Salvation out of there and he liked it!

One night we had planned to go with our ward mission leader to Kiran, and then home teaching with him but Kiran fell though fell through.... so we ran by some members and no one was home. One of the members had been scheduled but was in Göteborg. So we went by one of our investigators Mohsin. Turns out he was really not interested at all but in it for the information. So we each bore testimony, wasn't receptive, and we left.

Joseph We were able to teach about the Law of Chastity, 10 Commandments and Tithing and he was willing for it all. While we were gone he went to church in Jönköping and Elder Barlow translated for him. He looks really ready for this saturday! We taught Colette (new convert from Ivory Coast) about holding to the Rod and she loved it! While we were gone she came to church and went up and bore her testimony on sunday and a member translated for her! AMAZING how they find the Faith themselves to get up there and bare their testimonies!

On thursday we had district meeting here in Borås with the Zone Leaders. It had to do with Listening and Teaching so that everything leads to the commitment they will get. I liked it a lot.

We met Kiran and was able to teach him about following Jesus Christ and being baptized and he said he would as soon as he has time to! Nothing is holding this man back except school. Which is frustrating sometimes but he said he would!

Michelle, we talked to her about her ability to choose between good and evil before and after baptism... and that it is only through baptism that she can return to her heavenly father. We talked with her about Moroni 7 too as well because she has a great hope to live with god again... and has felt the spirit. But just doesn't believe this is the spirit but believes it's herself.

Ok sorry this is really long. I will get to the point. Friday morning we left for Stockholm. We arrived around 3 o clock and stayed with the Secretaries (Elder BUSH and BLAYLOCK) until 4 o clock where we helped Sister Anderson prepare for dinner that would be me, my companion, the Andersons and Grandfather and Wendy. Grandfather arrived earlier than expected and it was so good to give them hugs and kisses! Pretty much that whole night I was in this half reality where it didn't really feel like grandfather was there... but I kept looking at him... and telling myself HE's really HERE! We took a little time to show him where I am serving, take pictures, had Salmon dinner, played piano, looked at his iPad (really cool by the way.. I approve) And just had a great time together. They asked my companion if I was a good trainer and how he was working hard... just some really intimidating questions but he passed! haha Grandfathers message the next day was amazing! He talked about Immortality and Eternal Life and how Living with Heavenly Father in a conditional gift and we are the instruments / conduets for people to access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. President Teixeira, Kopischke and their wives all got up and bore their testimony. They emphasized a lot about relating simply and QUICKLY to the message of the restoration. Just by doing that... it will give you light and help you find the ones that are prepared to receive the message of the restored GOSPEL. President Rasband talked about how the General Authoirties go out 2 by 2 just like us and how REAL the Preisthood Organization is the SAME as back in the Bible times! Very spiritual meeting. A very spiritual meeting... later that night we went with the secretaries and wrote out the Plan of Salvation on the ground and people walked by and we conversed with many and it was pretty successful. (picture following this). The next day was a combined stake conference with Stockholm and Stockholm South stakes in a concert hall. Most missionaries were told to sit up on the stand so that ius what we did. Amazing talks were given. Wendy did an amazing comparison between the many Rocks in Sweden.. the many waters... the Light.. and many different things that symbolized the Savior in this country. Grandfather told the story about Russia and him getting permission to preach the gospel there. Later in his talk he, of course, called all the missionaries to stand up.. and then sit down.. then he mentioned how one of his grandchildren was serving here and wanted me to go up in front of 1,400 swedes. He asked, is there anything you would like to say? being caught completely offguard I said "tack för allt ni gör" Or thanks for everything you all do!He then told everyone my background, went to brazil, speaks fluent portuguese... born Jan 30th 1991.... It was kinda scary but funny at the same time. He then told me to tell the experience of me opening my mission call. So I did it in English because the translator was already there. But it was an amazing spiritual experience. He then asked me to sit down.. He talked about how bright the future was for me and the people of sweden.... he then said a great line which I will always remember... Its always hard to see the BRIGHT future when the current in gloomy. With the atonement, we can always have the Perfect Brightness of Hope and never be down, even wen difficult circumstances are around us.

Sorry this is very long... but I hope you will forgive me. I Love you all so much and thanks for your love, prayers, and support for everything you do for me! Thank you mom for the gift! The two CDS and the cards! very useful I LOVE IT!

Well, I hope to get more emails next week... but I am thankful for what I get anyways....

The Church is True,

Äldste Wad

GREETINGS!

Daddy and Wendy are on a European tour after the 
dedication of the Ukraine, Kiev Temple.  They
were assigned to go to Sweden... this is a love note/
email, about their visit with Aldste Adam!

Dearest Sylvia & Dave ,
We had dinner tonight with Adam and his companion.
Pres. Anderson & his wife hosted the dinner at
the mission home. They are fantastic! 
Adam & Elder Stoddard are happy and well.
They are doing well, teaching
and baptizing. We got good photos.
Just quick note now to update you.

Love you!
Daddy & Wendy