Hit the Quan

Email written: 12/11/17

Hallå! 

Wow, another week out here i det utvalda landet! With only 2 weeks left till Christmas, 2 days till St. Lucia, and Zone Conference this week as well, the time is just going by so fast as we anticipate all the amazing celebrations members have in store for us this Christmas season.

This week was a pretty random week I would say, so there isn't really an overarching story that I can tell that links the days together, but I can share some really awesome experiences in finding, but also experiences I would say that have turned me from a boy to man. 

1) Our man Erik

The week started off with our normal trek across the street to Willy's for our weekly grocery run (mom, don't worry, im eating lots of fruits and veggies). As we were walking into the store, a sweet, old woman said that we looked like some nice boys and asked for help to put a giant bag of dog food into her car. We agreed enthusiastically, as we love to give unplanned service throughout the day! After getting the job done, we began to talk about the church as it was right across the street. She had always seen the building, but never went in. We were able to switch numbers and she actually gave us her address too for us to come by one time. Later in the week, we went over to her apartment with an elderly couple in the branch, and we have an amazing lesson about God and Christ and how we can learn about them in the Book of Mormon. She straight up told us that she doesn't believe God helps people because she's gone through a divorce, she battled breast cancer last year, and so many other hard things in her life, but we were able to promise her so many blessings as she started to seek the truth and find out more about God's plan. Her name is Maöd, and I still don't exactly know how to say it, but we are super hopeful for the future with her!

Another cool experience was when we hopped onto a bus from the church back into downtown. I saw an Asian woman sitting alone reading a book, so I decided to go sit next to her. For all of you that are wondering, yes her name is Quan, hence the subject line. I politely asked what book she was reading and it was In Cold Blood, a book I read for summer reading before my junior year. We were able to talk a lot about the book and I was able to promise her it gets good, the beginning is just a little slow. Well, her bus stop came way too fast, and we had to cut the conversation short, but I quickly mentioned another book that we have that she could read (aka Mormons Bok). We switched numbers in lightning speed, and then she was on her way. A few days later, we were able to meet again, give her a Book of Mormon, and answer some questions she's had about life. She is so fantastic, and isn't afraid to ask questions! 

Now, to the tough parts of the week.....take a seat and grab some popcorn, because it's about to get real.

On Wednesday, we had so many lessons planned in the evening, that we were slowly beginning to realize that there was no time for dinner. As we thought about it, and thought about the needs of our investigators, we decided to have a fast from food and water for 24 hours for that extra spiritual boost our investigators needed. Since we now have bikes in our area, it is the most common form of transportation. So we biked all Wednesday, on top of us not eating or drinking that day. After all was said and done, and many lessons had been taught, it was time to go home, but we were all the way at the church and it was 9pm. We were just completely exhausted and I really just wanted to crash, but we had to bike 6km (that turned into about 8-9 since we got lost) back to our apartment, with a huge chunk of it uphill. It was one of the hardest things physically that I've had to do, biking all the way back in the cold after a long day of missionary work. As we biked back and I was fighting up the hill, I just began to cry, both with tears and in a prayer to God, asking why I had to go through this. Why, why, why. I didn't receive an answer then for why, but we finally made it back to the apartment and I just crashed on the bed and didn't move until the alarm went off 8 hours later. 

The next day we went to a pizzeria for dinner and a little Book of Mormon study session. During our study session, a lady come up to us trying to Bible bash and the two guys behind us were making Islam jokes, so that was an interesting experiences. Ms. Bible Bash became a potential investigator and the two guys are buying the pizza this week :) Well, we then went to the church with Erik (the member were with at pizzeria) to teach our investigator Selma. Pretty soon after we arrived, Selma just started crying and ended up telling us a huge chunk of her life story, how hard it's been, and how many messed up things she's gone through, details of events that I'm not going to repeat out of respect for her, and it was just a really heavy conversation. Erik, was then able to tell a bit of his life story for Selma, because his life really hasn't been that easy, and then he began to cry. Lots of tears this week people. But it was just such a tender moment. The room then got quiet, and a thought came into my head. 'It's because I'm preparing you for something greater'. The answer to my cry for help the night before. Elder Berlin and I were then able to teach with so much power about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The spiritual experiences here on the mission are unbelievable, and I know without a doubt that God does answer our prayers!

We had a nice end to the week at church yesterday, where I gave my first ever talk in Swedish! I talked for a whole 10 minutes about Christ-like love. From what the members said, it went super well! I also was able to bless the Sacrament, lead the hymns, and teach gospel principles the 2nd hour! Super super busy, but so happy that things are coming together in the branch! 7 people (plus 2 kids) came to Sacrament meeting!!!!! So many miracles :)

Life is good. Love you all! 

Pictures:

1) Our man Erik

2) Library study sesh with members Annelie and Ulrika!

3) After wednesday night #såtrött 

4/5) One of our investigators invited us over because he was going to make some food with his friends. Turned out to be an all out Arabic feast and all the guys there loved us so much and wanted us to have dinner there every night haha. 

6) Cykel grind 

-- Äldste Steele

2) Library study sesh with members Annelie and Ulrika!

4/5) One of our investigators invited us over because he was going to make some food with his friends. Turned out to be an all out Arabic feast and all the guys there loved us so much and wanted us to have dinner there every night haha. 

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