Swedish Wedding

Hey everyone, good week this week, I'll try and hit all the highlights!

We went to a wedding on friday!! It was in the bride's hometown about an hour and a half drive in Kristianstad but the branch president and his wife drove us there and even got us home on time! We went because Jan-Erik from our branch was getting married to our branch mission leader's mom! It was so cool, pretty much the same as a wedding in America but everything was in Swedish....

We picked up a new investigator, she's an olllld lady probably in her 80's named Anna-Marie. She met with missionaries a couple years ago when she had an American husband who really liked talking to other fellow Americans but her husband has passed away so it's just her and her cat now. We had a great lesson with her and were able to get her a ride to church cause she's too feeble to walk all the way there (it's like a 15 minute walk). She had a great time in church, she had to put her feet up cause she has an aching foot but the member's loved her!

We met with a less active this week wayyyy out there in Ljungby, named Tim Sakhorn who comes from Africa and speaks a rare african language, I can't remember what it's called. He could barely get by with Swedish but it worked so we got to know him and talked about the Book of Mormon. He has no way of getting to church over an hour away in Växjö so we just encouraged him to do the best he can and Heavenly Father will be happy. 

We swung by a less active this week who we're trying to bro up and he forgot about our appointment and had to reschedule. BUT about 10 steps away from his doorstep after we said bye some slightly drunk people came up to us on his driveway and wanted to talk to us. They alwayyyys want to talk to us, the white shirt and tie is like a drunk magnet I swear. So we teach them a little bit and discuss some stuff then none other than the less active guy comes out of his apartment and joins in! It was some great bonding with him and it was helpful to have him there with being a native Swedish speaker and what not. 

Elder Erikson and I were at a bus stop waiting on saturday and there was a lady sitting there that we felt prompted to talk to so we went for it and ended up teaching her about the Book of Mormon and she came to church with her daughter yesterday! Lammya and her daughter Mina! 

In "Create Success" by M. Russell Ballard it says "Success does not depend on the message, but on the messenger. We each learn that failure and excuses go together, so we must learn to get away from excuses. Dull or slow months are for dull missionaries, so remember that sharp missionaries don’t have any. This is why success is not luck. It can be predicted and followed each day into a successful week, year, and mission. Live one day at a time as though it were a building block".

Ha en häpnadsväckande vecka!

Med kärlek,

Äldste Hainsworth

Jan Erik & his wife

 Walking to soccer with a super awesome member, Jonny

 Burning a tie for my 6 months! 

Växjö Station where we always travel to and from

 Elder Erikson checking out the Swedish Church

 In Kristianstad for district meeting

Horse farm where the wedding was held! 

 Why the long face?

Miracle Day

Hitting my 6 months as an ordained, set apart servant of the Lord tomorrow, wow! 

On Tuesday we met with our ward mission leader Samuel and discussed the area and about doing a branch activity which never happened, Växjö could really use some branch activities, we might just have to do one our self! After Samuel's we went to a members house and had a great time. They both served missions in Sweden back in the day so they showed us their old picture flip book they used to teach they're memorized, scripted lessons from. Crazy how times have changed, I sure am glad I just have to know the basic lesson plan and follow the Spirit. They also shared with us some Swedish words specific to Småland like en lase, which is garbage. 

On Wednesday we took a long bus ride through some beautiful scenery out to Virserum. We had a really great lunch with some member's out there, a couple there was from London so the whole lunch was in English, weird! After we got home we went and weeded an elderly member's, Allu's, patio with Jan-Erik, a member. For some reason my back was really bugging me those last couple days but the service went great, no worries! 

On Thursday we got up earlyyy and went down to Malmö for zone training and interviews with President. We had a great training about finding those that will receive you and being prepared to receive those people. Afterwards we went to an all you can eat buffet and then hopped back on the train to sit out the food coma we'd just gotten ourselves into. After we got back we taught Mia, a member, and had a good discussion on the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

On friday we had a craaaazy day. The whole day felt relaxed and normal but we ended up teaching a TON of lessons and just getting some fantastic numbers! It was just so weird cause it didn't feel like we did anything differently or were sprinting from place to place, it just all happened. for example we swung by a potential investigator who we ended up giving a Book of Mormon to and teaching and getting a return appointment for Wednesday. It was just an amazing day and one that I won't forget anytime soon. 

On saturday we had open church and just really embraced the word open, we opened both double doors, all the blinds and put a big sign out on the sidewalk for people to see, but still no one came in! We'll keep on trying though. In the afternoon we went to a member's house then played soccer and some local kids joined it, so fun! 

 On sunday we had church then lunch then did some potential investigator swing by's then we had another awesome weekly planning session and got a lot of stuff set up for the week ahead so I'm really excited! Oh and we talked with a group of teenage kids for a bit when we were walking around, they said "tjena grabbar, hur mår ni?" which is pretty much "whats up guys how're you doing?". 

I really like an example in the Book of Mormon we learned in the zone training about Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. Both had spiritual experiences but one was humble and willing to act and the other two weren't. That's the difference, we need to be an agent, not an object as Elder Bednar puts it to really be effective in all that we do. 

Oh I forgot to mention that last p-day I bought my first pair of Tiger of Sweden pants! Tiger of Sweden is known among missionaries for being THE coveted company to get stuff for, super swedish, super slim and super good quality. So I found these 1400 kr pants that fit me great for 400 kr so I couldn't refuse.

Hälsningar,

Äldste Hainsworth

 Giant bugs that sometimes fly in our windows, one time one was in the shower with me and I almost slipped and broke my neck

A taste of our neighborhood

 A taste of a Växjö bus

 At a member's lakehouse in Virserum

Sometimes old people forget about fish on their patio...

View from my desk

Mormons and Aliens

Hey there! It feels like so much has happened this past week, probably cause of the transition between companions and what not!

On tuesday we had an interview with Smålandspåst, the local newspaper here in Växjö that people read. It was Emily, a super nice journalist, and her photographer. They reached out to do an article on us so we met them at the church on tuesday morning. Emily just asked us a ton of questions and I feel like it went well, we just smiled and tried to be friendly, normal people. We had a good time chatting and it wasn't too weird. After the interview we showed them around the church and went and took some pics at a nearby park. Who would've known male models can be missionaries too, I mean vice versa. So that article should be coming out soon, I'll email out the online version so y'all can read it when it's published! 

After that whole thing on tuesday we swung by some members so Elder Demordaunt could say his last goodbyes. After that we just went back and Elder Demordaunt packed, dang he's got a lot of stuff! Looking back on this transfer though I feel like I've been learning so much so quickly that it's hard to process and apply everything at once if that makes sense but I'm doing my best. Elder Demordaunt really showed me how to always be an example of the joy of the gospel, that's something I'll carry with me the rest of my mission and life hopefully.

On wednesday I sent Elder Demordaunt off around 11 am and wait around for Elder Erikson to get in at 11:50. He doesn't show up and to make a long story short he gets in around 3 pm after a lot of waiting and worrying on my part. Elder Erikson is from Idaho Falls, he's been out around 10 months and was actually comps with Elder Demordaunt in the MTC. He played tennis and ran in high school, it's been fun! 

On thursday thankfully we had district meeting here in Växjö so it was just a short bus ride away to the Church. We had a good discussion then went to a bistro buffet on the water of Växjö lake, my choice. During lunch we got this random call from this guy named Pontus who pretty much said he saw stuff about us on Ancient Aliens (Discovery channel show?) and is interested in learning more. so we were a little apprehensive going into it but he seemed genuine when we met with him. The lesson went well with Elder Erikson and I teaching together despite it being our first day together. After that we did some swing by's and nothing too crazy happened. At night though I accidentally got us off at the wrong bus stop and we ended up walking 40 minutes home, I'm pretty bad with directions so it's been tough on the mission navigating everywhere but I know it's a weakness I can definitely make a strength with time, a lot of time and practice! 

On friday we went and had some fika (tea and cookies) with our investigator Kjell, he pretty much shared his whole life story concerning religion which was good for me and especially Elder Erikson to hear, I'm excited to help him receive the happiness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It's was crazy this weekend in Downtown Växjö, there's a travelling carnival here for the weekend so it was crazy busy and loud and just exciting to be around that. 

On saturday we met with a 33 year old guy named Jonny who we got as a referall from other missionaries phone. We had a good chat getting to know eachother, he's very Swedish though so it was more of an interview it felt like with us asking him lots of questions and him giving what seemed like the shortest possible answer. After Jonny we changed, cleaned the church cause it was our week, did some calls and headed off to soccer. After soccer we helped clean Allu, an old member's garden. We were pretty exhausted by the end of that day but I wouldn't change a thing! 

Saturday was great, we had a couple investigators and less actives who made it to church. It was funny, Pontus, the guy who called us about aliens, shouted something in the middle of sacrament meeting during a member's talk to make sure he heard him right. We had the best weekly planning session I've ever had on my mission, just really thorough and makes me excited for this week. 

This new transfer's been terrific, we only speak Swedish outside the apartment which is hard but sooo helpful. I hope and pray that Elder Erikson and I can fulfill our potential here in Växjö over the coming month or so. That's actually what I've been thinking about again this week, I made a list of the potential I have on my mission and also my entire life. It really surprised me when I was honest with myself how great of potential I thought I had for my short two years here in Sweden and my life here on earth. I'm coming to realize as I get into the rhythm of missionary work and Sweden and everything that IF I choose to and act everyday, my mission can change me. It can change my life.

Love you all! 

Äldste Hainsworth

 Växjö Carnival

 The concert didn't even start till we were back home for the night! 

 Gotta catch em all!

ACTION PACKED TRANSFER EDITION

Hey everyone, the big moment you've all been waiting for, you can take the hard way out and skim the article to try and see what's happening with transfers or you can just read the whole dang thing and be patient! 

 After the zone volleyball tournament and bowling last p-day I went on splits with Elder George who's from Bountiful, Utah. He's been out for almost a year and is also a really good singer. Traveling back from the tournament in Malmö took the whole day so we had to do some p-day stuff on tuesday as well. After emailing and what not in the morning, we did some swing by's in our neighborhood of Nydalavägen. We decide right off the bat to knock the building of the first swing by. First door that answered was a muslim 22 year old named Jasmine. Apparently Elder Demordaunt and Demke got her number and talked to her at McDonalds a while back. We've texted and invited her to church a few times but sh'es usually working and can't come. So we didn't have her address and just happened to knock on her door who happens to be in our neighborhood. She invites us in and Elder George and I talk to her and her sister for over an hour, answering questions and talking about the Book of Mormon. She loved all our answers except that people in prison can't become members till they get out of prison. She said that's unfair and we "should talk to our prophet about it". Overall though it was great, I discovered that Mormons and Muslims are similar in a lot of ways She said she'd read the Book of Mormon and we had a kneeling prayer at the end that they said was beautiful. At night we didn't have much time but we went to a college in Teleborg on the other side of town and talked with a member there for a bit and knocked some doors. 

On Wednesday we exchanged back comps in Hässleholm in the morning, Elder Demordaunt and I got lunch at a pasta wagon there, didn't know that was a thing but it was way good. We had a lesson with Corina our only progressing investigator right now, and it was the big night where we'd answer her question if she could join the Church and still take the Holy Communion in her Church. So we explain to her that the Sacrament is the same as the Holy Communion, same promise to God, it's just that our Sacrament ordinance has the authority from God. Then she said something no missionaries want to hear their only progressing investigator say, "well maybe it's not for me then". Elder Demordaunt and I both felt prompted to pray with her right then so we kneel down and she asks God which Church is right for her. The Spirit was so strong and powerful and it was a testimony builder to me that this is God's true Church. We stay kneeling for about 15 minutes just feeling the strong Spirit in the room. After a while she gets up, says quietly thank you, hope you're not angry, we'll keep in touch (in Swedish) then left. After she left we just sat there in silence for 10 minutes trying to wrap our heads around what had just happened. After talking for a bit we just said a prayer to clear our heads and moved on from it, realizing we won't understand immediately what answer she received or what her decision was, it's just something that'll come with time I guess. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Thursday we had district meeting in Kristianstad. 3rd major trip on a train this week, the travel here in Växjö is ridiculous! It was a good district meeting about how to use the Book of Mormon more effectively in our teaching. We went back and met up with a new convert who we helped do some family history work to get her ready for the temple in a few months. After Mia we met up with the girl from the picture and her two teenage friends and the dad of one of them. We got dinner with them and had some good laughs. She had a ripstick (like a weird skateboard) in her car that we rode around on and showed her how it's done. And good language study cause it was all fast conversational Swedish the whole time. 

On saturday we got the transfer call annnnnnnd I'm staying! Elder Demordaunt will be headed to Jakobsberg in Stockholm but I'll be sticking around here and getting Elder Erikson who I've never met. I'm excited to be staying, there's a lot that can be done this next transfer, good things are coming our way, I can feel it! 

On sunday we had church with fast and testimony meeting, then weekly planning after church, then did a couple swing by's and that was the day. 

Oh and I tried a pizza with warm banana on it this week, it wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again, the texture just wasn't doing it for me. 

On p-day this week we went down to Kalmar Slott (castle) and toured around that, it was built in the 12th and 13th century. Super cool castle and it was a beautiful day too. 

I want to share my favorite quote in the world this week, it's not particularly religious or profound or anything, it's just something I've come to love and try to internalize and act upon everyday. "Ya know it's funny what's happening to us. Our lives are now digital. Our friends now virtual, and everything you could ever wanna know is just a click away. But experiencing the world through endless secondhand information isn't enough. If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it. We'll never know our full potential unless we push ourselves to find it. It's this self-discovery that inevitably takes us to the wildest places on earth".

Happy always, content never.

Peace and blessings,

Äldste Hainsworth 

 Hanging with Lina who had the ripstick

 whipped up some banana bread

welcoming in the Vaxjo rain

 Earning my knighthood

This castle was pretty much impenetrable

Castle selfie

It even has a drawbridge with a moat!

P.S.   Tenny's mom will be on a service trip in Fiji with Tenny's sister, Alija for the next 16 days, so 2 weeks of Tenny's emails & pics will be delayed until they return.   Thank you all for your support!