Gott Nytt År!

Email written: 12/31/18

Hej! Gott nytt år på er! Anyone have good new year's resolutions? I'm thinking about going vegan....just kidding aldrig i livet.

The past week has just flown by as we had the chance to celebrate on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with some of the members in the ward. For some reason, Sweden celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve and Santa Clause (tomte) shows up in the evening just at the back door to deliver the presents to the kids. It's a little different than what we americans are used to be, but it was a ton of fun, and we ate plenty of pickled herring and Christmas ham, along with rum gallons and gallons of julmust. 

We were also given extra study time this past week to study everything we possibly could about our Savior, Jesus Christ. As a challenge issued in 2017 by President Russell M. Nelson, we were to use the 57 subheadings of Jesus Christ located in the topical guide in order to grow a deeper appreciation and love for the Savior. I have learned so much about Him and it was the perfect way to wrap up the great year of 2018. 

Just like last new years, I was able to eat some surströmming with the office crew.. It is now my 3rd time eating surströmming, the absolute worst smelling fish in on the planet. It was just as bad the 3rd time. I might just make it a new year's tradition from now on to eat surströmming, might be kind of fun. 

A few weeks ago, Äldste Derr and I were out knocking on doors and right before we were about to go home, we saw this massive mansion sitting on top of a hill and we knew that we needed to knock on it. Most houses in Sweden are pretty modest and none of them really stick out, but every once in a while you will get a mansion that sticks out like a sore thumb and I just love knocking on those houses (like when I did it back in Övik and turned out to be a professional hockey player something Näslund). Well anyways, we go up and knock on this door and a girl about our age answers the door and we start talking a bit, but early on into the conversation we found out that she is a satanist. She told us that she wouldn't want to listen to us as she was happy following Satan and she was going to shut the door, but then at that moment I asked her if I could tell her something before she shut the door, and then after she said yes, I powerfully preached that Satan's only desire was for her to suffer, and that she needed to come unto Christ, whose only desire is for her to have joy. Äldste Derr then pulls out the Book of Mormon and testifies like a BEAST, and then her entire attitude changed in an instant and she told us she would love to take a Book of Mormon. When we went back a few days later to see what her thoughts were on the few verses we gave to her, she told us that she actually ended up reading the entire chapter, plus a few more chapters after that because the Book of Mormon was so interesting for her to read. It really was a testament to me that we as missionaries have the power and authority of God and that we shouldn't be afraid to be bold with those that we come in contact with. 

Thanks everyone for a great year! I'm excited to see what 2019 has in store :D Until next time, happy new year! Take care!

Pictures:

1) Christmas couple 

2) solnedgången 

3) typical swedish house 

4) earlier today eating surströmming in the woods 

5) Christmas present from the Stenkronas

-- Äldste Steele

1) Christmas couple

2) solnedgången 

3) typical swedish house 

4) earlier today eating surströmming in the woods

5) Christmas present from the Stenkronas

God Jul

Email written: 12/24/18

God Jul!

God is good and Christ lives! 

--Aldste Steele

Har du haft en speciell dag?

Email written: 12/17/18

Hejsan!

Well, one week closer to Christmas everyone! I am getting so excited for Christmas here in Sweden and we finally got some snow on the ground and trees here, so it truly has a magical feel in Sweden during this time of year. We just got back from going on a random adventure in the forest and we came across a little horse pasture where these people were legit riding around in this horse cart things. I asked the guy if he could take me for a spin but he just took off so that was fun :)

This past week was the Swedish celebration, St. Lucia, which somehow also has some sort of tie to Italy, but the guy sitting next to me at the celebration didn't really know the story. He told me to go to a library and read a book about it or Google it. But, the celebration is more or less a 'Luciatåg' that comes in through the middle of the church, the head girl wearing a crown of candles, and everyone following her has candles in their hands. The concert we went to involved a lot of young kids, and so the small ones, or even the older kids that were a lot more rowdy were given just lights instead of a real candle haha. But, I really enjoyed it! It was a nice little concert, and the songs were stuck in my head the rest of the week.. 'Saanktaa luciiiiaaaa, sanktaaaa luciiiia'

Also this week, we were out tracting, as usual. We have been going a lot to this area called Sjöberg becuase we got a good feeling about it and missionaries really haven't ever been there. As we came to this one door, we knocked and becuase I was on the side opposite to the direction the door opened, I assumed Elder Derr would take the beginning of the conversation before I come in. For some reason, my head was in the clouds somewhere and when the door opened, Elder Derr didn't say anything and so I was like oh umm and without thinking I just said, 'hej, har du haft en speciell dag? ' I had no idea what I was saying haha, I had just asked this man if he has had a special day. It was kind of a weird question and I felt bad that I wasn't totally engaged in the conversation. He was kind of taken aback by the question but then after recovering quickly, we got to have a good conversation and he told us we could come back and give him a Book of Mormon. It was just proof to me that even if we stumble in our attempts as missionaries, God makes up the difference and if they're prepared, it won't necessarily matter what you say to start the conversation! But, with that being said, I hope all of you can make each day, en speciell dag! :)

One last thing! We were in kind of a dilemma Saturday because we had too many things planned and needed to figure out what things we would opt of participating in and which things we would do that evening. After careful thought, we decided to attend the baptism of a young girl that has grown up in the church. Not sure why we went, but it felt like it was the right thing to do. Sure enough, when we came into the chapel for the beginning of the baptism, we saw this couple that we have wanted to start teaching the past few weeks! The wife doesn't come as often and the man isn't a member (yet). He had wanted to come to the baptism to see how it all works because one day he might be doing the same thing! We got to sit by them and get to know them better and we got one step closer to begin teaching them! It was cool to see that little miracle there!

Life is good here in Täby! Zone conference is this week and Christmas is just right around the corner! Until next time, God Jul och Gott nytt år!!! 

Pictures:

1) jag och min kompis här 

2) svenska kyrkan där vi kollade på Lucia

3) kontoret squad med hästar

4) vackert 

-- Äldste Steele

1) jag och min kompis här 

2) svenska kyrkan där vi kollade på Lucia

3) kontoret squad med hästar

4) vackert 

Light Explosion

Email written: 12/10/18

Hej allesammans, 

So, I waited till the very end of the day to type out how my week went, and so I don't have much time to do it :O

But, we were able to witness a ton of miracles this past week. Probably the biggest one was that the new missionaries all got their visas last minute and all of them came this past Tuesday. They continue to send the best of the best to Sweden. President Youngberg actually told us recently that 3 of the Apostles have said that they send a really special type of missionary to the Sweden Stockholm mission and so it truly is an honor to be serving here along with all the other bright, talented and dedicated servants of the Lord. 

A few weeks ago, we had asked this sweet lady in our ward to write her testimony in a Book of Mormon so that as could give it out to someone in the neighborhood. We were able to give it to someone a few days ago and we went right over to give a report to this member that had written her testimony in the Book. On our way there, we met this older man that were able to have a nice conversation with and he told us how much he liked the way that we try to missionary (att missionera is actually a verb in Swedish) so that was nice. But then, he told us that if we would start walking down the road, we would see an ultimate light explosion and so we kept going down the road and then boom, there it was, a house with around 60,000 Christmas lights in the middle of a nice Swedish neighborhood. We asked the member all about the house and she told us the whole back story and she even explained it to some people walking by that asked if it was some American who lived there. 

Well, later after we talked to the member, we went to talk to those Swedes that made a comment about America and started talking to them in front of the light explosion house. It was pretty easy to start a conversation since we are Americans and they had made a comment about the house. Turns out, they live right next door to one of the members in the Stockholm ward and it was such a small world connection just right there! 

But, life is good and I can't wait for Christmas! Don't forget the real reason for the season.. Our Savior was born. Have a good week! 

Pictures:

1) Light Explosion 

2) me and Äldste Baggett, who is home now

3) sightseeing with new missionaries 

4) a Swedish church 

-- Äldste Steele

1) Light Explosion 

2) me and Äldste Baggett, who is home now

3) sightseeing with new missionaries 

4) a Swedish church 

How Many Days till Christmas?

Email written: 12/3/18

Hej allihopa! It's December now! Helt otroligt!

It's been another crazy and good week in the office with Äldste Derr. We found out a few days ago that we will be staying together for another transfer so we both are pretty excited about that. It was neat to be a part of the transfer board now as an assistant and really be a witness to the inspiration that President Youngberg receives for the missionaries and different areas. Elder Derr and I will be staying together, but because of the decrease in the amount of missionaries in Sweden, the sisters in the ward will be moving to other parts of Sweden and so it will just be me and my companion in the Täby ward now. 

Out tracting this week, we saw a very very large man through the window not wearing any clothes so that was interesting. But anyways...

Light the World initiative has officially begun and it was supposed to start off with a worldwide day of service, but after calling all the second hand stores in the area, and trying to set something up with our bishop, everything fell through and so we ended up not doing anything too crazy but we did think about how we could serve the zone leaders and were able to send them all a really nice text to let them know all the good they are doing. 

During weekly planning, we got started on a discussion on how we can help more Swedes to come to church. I've noticed that those that make the most progress in their gospel learning are those that are willing to come to church and so we need to do all we can to find those that want to come. Right after we had said this and prayed over our plans, we headed out to this new area called Sjöberg.. We had never been there before but it was pretty close to our apartment and it was the first area that popped into my companions head. So, we headed on out there and on the 2nd door we knock on, this middle aged man comes out and starts talking with us. He actually came out to his balcony instead of opening the door so it kind of awkward as we were yelling up to him on his balcony. But, we just started talking and he told us about how great of a guy he is and how much he tries to help and how he is santa for Christmas and he donates money to cancer research and so he is just such an overall trevlig and snäll. We brought up the Book of Mormon and he finally came down off his balcony and took the book!! He told us that he is going to read the whole book before the end of the year. We then told him that he is more than welcome on the 23rd of December for church and he said that he will be coming for sure and he will be taking his wife with him!! Just like that, after making plans of getting more Swedes to church, we meet a man like Tomas. It was such a big miracle for us this week.

Well, we have a lot to get prepared for as the new missionaries all come tomorrow! Ha en bra vecka!   

Pictures:

1) we went on a boat today 

2) riding a boat through stockholm

3) the classic elder derr face

-- Äldste Steele

1) we went on a boat today

2) riding a boat through stockholm

3) the classic elder derr face