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
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