Hey!
Ok for things this week,
We had a pretty good week. We got 13 teaches, and my comp was sick for most of the time. It was good tho. We also went on splits. i went to Umeå with Elder Kroff. That was pretty fun. We taught a 11 year old kid that one day walked in their appartment and started talking to them. He's an awesome kid. His whole family is slowly starting to investigate the church. It was pretty cool. His dad died a few weeks ago, so i talked to him with that. We did some good stuff tho there. It was pretty fun.
We also had our english discussion class with our awesome high school friends. They are troopers. We play games with them for a little bit and then we talk about the gospel for a little. Andreas is going to sing in sacrement meeting!! I'm way excited for that. He is awesome!!! we actually taught their english class again today. High school classes can be an awesome way to find people if you do them right. We did a pretty good job.
Another cool thing this week was what happened with our Iranian friends. Parvaneh, the wife texted us asking if she can come to chruch on sunday. It was pretty cool!!! she came and she just wanted to sit in the hall way and read her koran. She said that she hasn't had time to just think and do religious stuff sense she came to sweden. I really care about them, they are so awesome!! We are going to go to their house again sometime soon. THat'll be fun. I'm glad we got to be friends with them. It's pretty cool to go see other people and what is going on in the world. Parvaneh said she was really said that we could move in a few weeks, she said she considers us best friends. That was pretty awesome, and she said that 4 months ago she lost her two best friends in all the troubles that happend in Iran. one of her friends got thrown off a bridge and she was the first one to get to him, and he was dead. Then another one of her best friends got shot right in front of her at a protest thing. It's pretty sad... I'm so glad we live in a peaceful nation!!! America is one heck of a great place to live in. I've never had such a great appreciation.
ANother note is that Thanksgiving is the best holiday in the world. That's what i think all holidays should be like. Family gets togther, have good food and say what they are thankful for!!! Isn't that what christmas and easter should be like??? Where did all this greed and presents and materializm come from?? Anyway enjoy Thanksgiving because it's the most Godly and Holy holiday in my mind.
Other things....
Stig, our friend that is going to get baptized is doing awesome!!! we went to his place and walked to the resturant where his newly married to wife works, and had some Thai dinner. That was awesome!! we got to meet her for the first time, and Stig is fully ready for baptism. He is one awesome guy!!! I'm way excited for him. He will be baptized on the 28th of November. That is my 1½ year mark. He is also a doctor, and has one funny sense of humor. He is so funny. We were talking about repentance and "change" in sunday school and he said something so funny. I was laughing so hard. He said something to the effect of "sounds like Obama". It was so funny to hear him say that.
Anyway life is going pretty good! this week a head will be pretty awesome. Back down to Umeå for sharpening... and interviews, which means transfers are coming soon!!!!
anyway gotta go. I love to hear from you guys!
Thanks,
ÄA
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
October 26th 2009
Hey Family!
I had a pretty good week this week. Let me tell you a little of what happened.
Well this week we did pretty good with teaching people. It was our focus again to get 15 total teaches-- and we got it!
We taught quite a few english classes, one religion class, that was awesome. We had a member come and he really laid it down how it is. He explained that we are all trying to find happiness and that if you dont define it now while your young, and don't try to figure out what is going to make you actually happy- then go get it. And if there is a God then he obviously knows what will actually make us happy and he will actually help us get there. It was pretty cool. We gave out 5 books of Mormon to that class. That was good.
I've found one of my talents. I love making effective systems and programs in a way, that help get something done. Like when we visit high schools I have these papers that we use, that I designed to help us stay organized and so we don't double book. Then we have good surveys that we've designed that help us know what we did good in the class, and most importantly get students contact info. So in all these billion english classes we've found all the ones that want to talk about religion, and then I have a good sheet that helps us stay on track of who is interested, who we've called or not.
And we are going to do a similar thing in this Swedish-English class we have. My comp teaches swedish and we are going to add a english class too. We've done this before but it wasn't very effective. So we revised and rethought it and have a good system that we are going to use to actually help people learn languages, but also feel comfortable asking us questions about the gospel (aka, the real reason we are here)
So i've got some funny stories from this week.
1.we found a hedgehog. That was fun. Here is a picture of him.
A.He came to district meeting with us in the church. It was pretty cool. So swedes are really protective of nature... Idk why but they are kinda crazy about it. The other missionaries said they saw a hedge hog so I sprinted out to go find him-- then I couldnt find him so I was looking around and then I spotted him in the middle of the road! So I hopped this little fence and grabbed him. Just my luck this old grandma was there and got mad at me. I just told her it was my pet and walked away. I'm pretty tired of swedes freaking out about stupid stuff like that.
2.Oh we cleaned some Graffitti off this thing by the church.
A.And then I ticked off another grandma.... gosh how can a grandma get mad at me for cleaning graphitti?? definitely possible somehow. So I was painting it off (this is fully on church property anyway) and she comes kinda by us and says we should stop painting and it's a waste of our time b.c it will just be back there the next day. And we said have a great day woman but we are not just going to leave graphitti here. So she kept arguing with us that we should stop, I'm pretty sure it was her that tagged our wall. She said we should let the government do it, cause they have a crew do it. Anyway we kinda just said ok have a good day woman and she walked away.
B.I'm just confused on how she could get mad at us for CLEANING graphitti. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't care if she saw the person actually tagging it. As you can tell I was kinda offended. I'm pretty sure she is just a hard-core socialist and wants the government to have to give out meaninless jobs like cleaning graphitti.
3.We helped a chinese refugee apply to be in the US military.
A.It's true we really did. He is this crazy guy that we went by last week who “trust in god but wont read the bible(or bom).” He emailed this other missionary that was here that he had “very important questions” for us... so we called him and set up another time. He told us this crazy story of how he escaped china and got to sweden. And the other day on the internet he saw that refugees can now apply for the US military. I dont know if that is true but we helped him email this recruter person that he had his email address. It was halarious actually-- and we really helped him, he was super serious about it. He would be one dedicated dude if they could understand his very choppy english and swedish.
Well that is it for funny stories!! It was pretty entertaining.
So the past couple days I have not been feeling too well (I'm better now) and my comp was even worse. I'm actually pretty sure he has a mild case of the swine flu or something. It's not too bad, but i'm expecting him to grow a pig tail sometime within the next few days.
Hopefully he gets better soon cause we have lots to do this week. It was kinda funny yesterday. We were late to church cause he wanted a blessing, and just being sick doesnt help, and when we were there everyone was like terrified that he was sick. This older woman named Siw had the funniest look on her face when she found out. But then we just went home and slept and stuff and did some other paper work that we needed to.
Our English Discussion Group didn't turn out too well this week. We are changing the time to Tuesdays at 3:00 to help it because we already have several students who come at that time. It should be very good. Most of the ones that come are also interested in religion- so hopefully we get to share the gospel a little bit. (or a lot, that would always be good)
I dont know if i've told you guys but I have an investigator from when I was in Kristianstad who we found in an English class that is getting baptized on the 14th of November. I'm pretty excited about that!!! I'm kinda sad that I cannot be there, but I'm perfectly fine being all the way up here working on baptizing more people.
Our investigator is going to get baptized pretty soon. I'm so excited for him!!! He is so awesome!!!!! One of the best guys i've ever met. He is a doctor, and used to be a surgeon. I know i've told you a little about him, but he is going to get baptized on the 28th of Nov. or maybe the 14th....
Anyway that's kinda been a lot about all the different stuff we've done! This week was pretty good, cause even tho we were sick we still got 15 teaches.
This is a picture of these really good candy things that Parvaneh made for us, they are from Iran.
This is our pet Hedgehog - Sonic
I had a pretty good week this week. Let me tell you a little of what happened.
Well this week we did pretty good with teaching people. It was our focus again to get 15 total teaches-- and we got it!
We taught quite a few english classes, one religion class, that was awesome. We had a member come and he really laid it down how it is. He explained that we are all trying to find happiness and that if you dont define it now while your young, and don't try to figure out what is going to make you actually happy- then go get it. And if there is a God then he obviously knows what will actually make us happy and he will actually help us get there. It was pretty cool. We gave out 5 books of Mormon to that class. That was good.
I've found one of my talents. I love making effective systems and programs in a way, that help get something done. Like when we visit high schools I have these papers that we use, that I designed to help us stay organized and so we don't double book. Then we have good surveys that we've designed that help us know what we did good in the class, and most importantly get students contact info. So in all these billion english classes we've found all the ones that want to talk about religion, and then I have a good sheet that helps us stay on track of who is interested, who we've called or not.
And we are going to do a similar thing in this Swedish-English class we have. My comp teaches swedish and we are going to add a english class too. We've done this before but it wasn't very effective. So we revised and rethought it and have a good system that we are going to use to actually help people learn languages, but also feel comfortable asking us questions about the gospel (aka, the real reason we are here)
So i've got some funny stories from this week.
1.we found a hedgehog. That was fun. Here is a picture of him.
A.He came to district meeting with us in the church. It was pretty cool. So swedes are really protective of nature... Idk why but they are kinda crazy about it. The other missionaries said they saw a hedge hog so I sprinted out to go find him-- then I couldnt find him so I was looking around and then I spotted him in the middle of the road! So I hopped this little fence and grabbed him. Just my luck this old grandma was there and got mad at me. I just told her it was my pet and walked away. I'm pretty tired of swedes freaking out about stupid stuff like that.
2.Oh we cleaned some Graffitti off this thing by the church.
A.And then I ticked off another grandma.... gosh how can a grandma get mad at me for cleaning graphitti?? definitely possible somehow. So I was painting it off (this is fully on church property anyway) and she comes kinda by us and says we should stop painting and it's a waste of our time b.c it will just be back there the next day. And we said have a great day woman but we are not just going to leave graphitti here. So she kept arguing with us that we should stop, I'm pretty sure it was her that tagged our wall. She said we should let the government do it, cause they have a crew do it. Anyway we kinda just said ok have a good day woman and she walked away.
B.I'm just confused on how she could get mad at us for CLEANING graphitti. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't care if she saw the person actually tagging it. As you can tell I was kinda offended. I'm pretty sure she is just a hard-core socialist and wants the government to have to give out meaninless jobs like cleaning graphitti.
3.We helped a chinese refugee apply to be in the US military.
A.It's true we really did. He is this crazy guy that we went by last week who “trust in god but wont read the bible(or bom).” He emailed this other missionary that was here that he had “very important questions” for us... so we called him and set up another time. He told us this crazy story of how he escaped china and got to sweden. And the other day on the internet he saw that refugees can now apply for the US military. I dont know if that is true but we helped him email this recruter person that he had his email address. It was halarious actually-- and we really helped him, he was super serious about it. He would be one dedicated dude if they could understand his very choppy english and swedish.
Well that is it for funny stories!! It was pretty entertaining.
So the past couple days I have not been feeling too well (I'm better now) and my comp was even worse. I'm actually pretty sure he has a mild case of the swine flu or something. It's not too bad, but i'm expecting him to grow a pig tail sometime within the next few days.
Hopefully he gets better soon cause we have lots to do this week. It was kinda funny yesterday. We were late to church cause he wanted a blessing, and just being sick doesnt help, and when we were there everyone was like terrified that he was sick. This older woman named Siw had the funniest look on her face when she found out. But then we just went home and slept and stuff and did some other paper work that we needed to.
Our English Discussion Group didn't turn out too well this week. We are changing the time to Tuesdays at 3:00 to help it because we already have several students who come at that time. It should be very good. Most of the ones that come are also interested in religion- so hopefully we get to share the gospel a little bit. (or a lot, that would always be good)
I dont know if i've told you guys but I have an investigator from when I was in Kristianstad who we found in an English class that is getting baptized on the 14th of November. I'm pretty excited about that!!! I'm kinda sad that I cannot be there, but I'm perfectly fine being all the way up here working on baptizing more people.
Our investigator is going to get baptized pretty soon. I'm so excited for him!!! He is so awesome!!!!! One of the best guys i've ever met. He is a doctor, and used to be a surgeon. I know i've told you a little about him, but he is going to get baptized on the 28th of Nov. or maybe the 14th....
Anyway that's kinda been a lot about all the different stuff we've done! This week was pretty good, cause even tho we were sick we still got 15 teaches.
This is a picture of these really good candy things that Parvaneh made for us, they are from Iran.
 |
| From 06 Luleå w. Hanes |
This is a picture of us and Parvaneh Tofigh. They are our friends from Iran.  |
| From 06 Luleå w. Hanes |
 |
| From 06 Luleå w. Hanes |
Monday, October 19, 2009
October 19th 2009
Hey Family!
This week we drove 830 American miles! sense Tuesday! That is OVER driving to Vegas and back from Draper UT. It was recidulous. We drove to Umeå twice. And then to this city by boden, and then to boden. We were in the car definately over 15 hrs this week. if not more. And i drove most of it....
Yeah as you can tell sweden is huge, the closest elders live 135 km from us. it's pretty crazy.
Anyway for more exciting news...
WE got a baptismal date! in Luleå! Our dear friend Stig decided to get baptized. He's changed so much of his life around it's so awesome. It's cool to see the final/beginning stages (depending on how you look at it haha). Well that was pretty awesome. And we got 3 new investigators. We've taught alot of english classes in high schools and now they are paying off a little bit. I dont think we'll really see how much good we actually did from all of those, but we got 3 new investigators, and hopefully more to come! They were some awesome kids. They were really cool. Andreas could sing so awesomely! We asked them about themselves and he said he liked to sing, and he said he'd sing us a song! It was a religious song none the less!! almost unheard of in sweden! And it was really powerful. I want to get him to sing it in sacrement meeting. It would be really cool experience for him, and then all the members would love him haha.
We have been working so hard! Its crazy! I like it alot tho, i'm just trying to pace myself so i dont get worn out. we havent really been taking pdays to be honest. Cause we've been teaching too much. We almost didnt have time to email today. Well i need a break now and again, like once a week is perfect, so we'll come up with something fun and relaxing to do. It's crazy having seriously a 24-7 job. absoluletly every waking moment is spent on missionary work basically. It's crazy. And some not waking moments- I'm still not sure what language i dream in, it's a mix i think.
Well i'm stoked that i've got a cousin ty now save and sound in his new area in Brazil and then a future missionary cousin going to CA. and a cousin in Vegas-- he'll be home soon huh? weird.
We went to Umeå (3hr ride down and 3 hrs back) 2x once to have district meeting bc the Johnsons from the Office were coming and needed to tell us car safty stuff, and the other time because they were having district conference. you who are from Utah, or never served a mission, or left the bubble, a District is a stake before a stake. Well it was a good meeting! We got a new district presidency and it's more connected to the missionpresidency so that will be good at helping with missionary work.
OH! I nearly forgot! So my 2 best friends here are named Parvaneh and Tofigh. They are from Iran, and we went to their appartment and had an Iranian meal! It was so awesome!! it was really good, and it was so fun to talk to them and then we also taught them about Joseph Smith. They have lots of questions, and I love talking to them cause it is so genuine. We dont really try to convince them, just inform them, and if feels good to not try to pressure them actually. I wish more people in sweden would want to be taught cause then it's alot easier. I feel like alot of times we have to try to trick people to listen to us, and no one wants to do that. but they are SO busy here, sometimes it's just hard to get anyone to listen even with all our thousand tricks! but we keep working!!!
My grandpa told me about how my great-grandparents are still working hard up in Nampa ID. What great people!! They are still just working away after a great life and still holding strong to that Iorn Rod, and just doing their best! what great examples of Enduring to the End!! I sure appreicate them and all my family and friends. You guys are so awesome. Most families in sweden are so small and when i show them pictures of my family they are always suprised! I love having a large strong family. Count your blessigns every day! haha even the ones you dont know about hhaha.
Anyway i think that was it for this week. It's weird having friends who are headed home soon, and just life coming by. And my sister is going to live in Hawaii and study there. it's just crazy!
Anyway have a great week!
Keep doing the things you need to!
President Anderson said something in his talk at District Confrerece- he held up his GPS - they call it their "liahona". He said this thing is unbelievable- it always works, all we have to do is use it. Then he asked us what are the liahonas we have in our lives? It was pretty cool. It made alot of poeple think, and it was cool. He said we just have to dial in where we want to go and it takes us there! sounds similar to prayer and scriptures study!
I've been thinking when i wanna go home that i wanna be a "internet missionary" and just talk to people on chats and stuff and basically just inform them, and direct them to Elder Hollands awesome talk, if they disagree with me haha. Elder Holland did a pretty good job at kinda the all inclusive answer of the book of mormon had to come from somewhere so you better read it and find out if it is true! cause none of those "frankly pathetic answers" are working explain the book of mormon.
Anyway have a great week!
love you all,
ÄA
This week we drove 830 American miles! sense Tuesday! That is OVER driving to Vegas and back from Draper UT. It was recidulous. We drove to Umeå twice. And then to this city by boden, and then to boden. We were in the car definately over 15 hrs this week. if not more. And i drove most of it....
Yeah as you can tell sweden is huge, the closest elders live 135 km from us. it's pretty crazy.
Anyway for more exciting news...
WE got a baptismal date! in Luleå! Our dear friend Stig decided to get baptized. He's changed so much of his life around it's so awesome. It's cool to see the final/beginning stages (depending on how you look at it haha). Well that was pretty awesome. And we got 3 new investigators. We've taught alot of english classes in high schools and now they are paying off a little bit. I dont think we'll really see how much good we actually did from all of those, but we got 3 new investigators, and hopefully more to come! They were some awesome kids. They were really cool. Andreas could sing so awesomely! We asked them about themselves and he said he liked to sing, and he said he'd sing us a song! It was a religious song none the less!! almost unheard of in sweden! And it was really powerful. I want to get him to sing it in sacrement meeting. It would be really cool experience for him, and then all the members would love him haha.
We have been working so hard! Its crazy! I like it alot tho, i'm just trying to pace myself so i dont get worn out. we havent really been taking pdays to be honest. Cause we've been teaching too much. We almost didnt have time to email today. Well i need a break now and again, like once a week is perfect, so we'll come up with something fun and relaxing to do. It's crazy having seriously a 24-7 job. absoluletly every waking moment is spent on missionary work basically. It's crazy. And some not waking moments- I'm still not sure what language i dream in, it's a mix i think.
Well i'm stoked that i've got a cousin ty now save and sound in his new area in Brazil and then a future missionary cousin going to CA. and a cousin in Vegas-- he'll be home soon huh? weird.
We went to Umeå (3hr ride down and 3 hrs back) 2x once to have district meeting bc the Johnsons from the Office were coming and needed to tell us car safty stuff, and the other time because they were having district conference. you who are from Utah, or never served a mission, or left the bubble, a District is a stake before a stake. Well it was a good meeting! We got a new district presidency and it's more connected to the missionpresidency so that will be good at helping with missionary work.
OH! I nearly forgot! So my 2 best friends here are named Parvaneh and Tofigh. They are from Iran, and we went to their appartment and had an Iranian meal! It was so awesome!! it was really good, and it was so fun to talk to them and then we also taught them about Joseph Smith. They have lots of questions, and I love talking to them cause it is so genuine. We dont really try to convince them, just inform them, and if feels good to not try to pressure them actually. I wish more people in sweden would want to be taught cause then it's alot easier. I feel like alot of times we have to try to trick people to listen to us, and no one wants to do that. but they are SO busy here, sometimes it's just hard to get anyone to listen even with all our thousand tricks! but we keep working!!!
My grandpa told me about how my great-grandparents are still working hard up in Nampa ID. What great people!! They are still just working away after a great life and still holding strong to that Iorn Rod, and just doing their best! what great examples of Enduring to the End!! I sure appreicate them and all my family and friends. You guys are so awesome. Most families in sweden are so small and when i show them pictures of my family they are always suprised! I love having a large strong family. Count your blessigns every day! haha even the ones you dont know about hhaha.
Anyway i think that was it for this week. It's weird having friends who are headed home soon, and just life coming by. And my sister is going to live in Hawaii and study there. it's just crazy!
Anyway have a great week!
Keep doing the things you need to!
President Anderson said something in his talk at District Confrerece- he held up his GPS - they call it their "liahona". He said this thing is unbelievable- it always works, all we have to do is use it. Then he asked us what are the liahonas we have in our lives? It was pretty cool. It made alot of poeple think, and it was cool. He said we just have to dial in where we want to go and it takes us there! sounds similar to prayer and scriptures study!
I've been thinking when i wanna go home that i wanna be a "internet missionary" and just talk to people on chats and stuff and basically just inform them, and direct them to Elder Hollands awesome talk, if they disagree with me haha. Elder Holland did a pretty good job at kinda the all inclusive answer of the book of mormon had to come from somewhere so you better read it and find out if it is true! cause none of those "frankly pathetic answers" are working explain the book of mormon.
Anyway have a great week!
love you all,
ÄA
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