It's True!

Hejsan! 

Elder Baquedano and I went and toured around Gamla Stan in Stockholm this last p day and that was a ton of fun, so much history and so many cool buildings. Europe is the dang place. 

Zone conference was just one big spiritual experience this past week, I gained a lot of insights and felt my testimony and desire to follow Jesus Christ and strengthen my personal relationship with Him grow. We watched a short video called "Do You Believe? - A Silent Interview on Christ" Which is amazing. Watch it. I think it might be on youtube.

Mikael is doing much better, we have him on the one week stop smoking program and he's down to about a cigarette a day, he's almost there, just needs that last step of faith! Mikael reallllly needs to come to church and he was all lined up to this week and had a ride and everything but his brother was in the hospital on sunday so of course he was with him instead. His baptismal date will need to be pushed back a couple weeks but that's ok, we're really optimistic and Mikael is still positive and excited about the big changes happening in his life.

We had a lesson with a guy from Nigeria on a bench outside of one of the apartment complexes we work in, it's hard to explain what happened without being there but he's a very superstitious, Jesus loving African guy. He ended up getting an answer about the Book of Mormon while we talked to him and that it was a good book so he accepted it and then while we were leaving he received another answer that he didn't need to read it so he gave it back...it was interesting, but we have another lesson scheduled at 7 tomorrow at the same bench so we'll see. 

We spent Easter with the Olsson family after church and it was super fun, we had Easter dinner, had an easter egg hunt, played Book of Mormon golf and had a good time with their cute 4 and 2 year old boys. 

I learned about leadership in the missionary handbook this week and I think the scripture it recommends leaders to study is key, D&C 121:34-46. When handling problems or addressing concerns we have to be direct and chastise when necessary but then follow it up and accompany it with even more love so that those people know that the motive of your actions is pure love and not selfish or greedy in any way, simply a desire to help and offer improvement. 

I love you all, happy General Conference weekend coming up! '

Äldste Hainsworth

Knife holder at a members house

 Stockholm

Helsingborg crew reunited! 

 Easter activity we did in Stockholm on saturday, giving out Easter eggs and offering free waffles. Here's some new friends from London! 

Påsk is Upon Us!

Hey y'all! I've officially decided that I love Swedish kids! I wish I could just pack one up in a box and ship em home so you could experience them buuut that would be highly illegal. This ward in Vendelsö is filled with kids, kids at every member dinner and they're the best. Little kid Swedish is adorable and Swedish kids are smart, they know their stuff. 

Anyways we committed Mikael to quit smoking on wednesday and he gratefully accepted the offer of a priesthood blessing to assist him. Kent, a member that was with us, offered an inspired blessing upon Mikael of both comfort and strength. It was a powerful experience and reminded me of a scripture in Luke 1:37- "For with God nothing shall be impossible". Mikael is on the road to quit smoking, he's been having a really tough time physically quitting to the point of he couldn't come to church cause he felt horrible. We thought he could quit without using the stop smoking program but it's looking like that's the best thing for him. We will probably be pushing his baptismal date back but his desire's still there and he's reading and praying everyday! 

Sunday morning was tough, we had a couple less actives promise to come to church and Mikael was planning on coming and all of them said they couldn't come anymore sunday morning when we were there with a ride for them and ready to go. Oh well life goes on! 

We had a lesson with Zuleyka, a referral from the Elders in Handen. It went well despite her family not being interested in learning more. She has already read the Book of Mormon but it was a while ago so we're starting from square one. Hopefully more where that came from! 

Personal study has been a lot of reading about the Savior's life from the perspective of John, one of his Apostles. It's interesting getting a different perspective than in the other respective gospels, some new miracles that are only contained in John. Jesus turning water to wine at a wedding is always something that's interested me, I like that that miracle because it shows that Jesus was a social person, not a recluse. That's important! Also, Jesus was honoring and obeying his mother when she requested the miracle which is also very important. I love the New Testament cause it helps me realize that Jesus was practical and realistic as well as perfect. For example, after He wakes the daughter of Jairus He tells them to get her something to eat, she's been asleep awhile and needs something to eat. I've always been a very realistic, practical person where things have to be applicable and make sense and I feel that that's a special aspect of Jesus' example that is often overlooked but that I really cherish.

I love you all, check out FollowHim.mormon.org if you haven't already! 

Peace and blessings,

Äldste Hainsworth

 Stockhom!

 Best seat in the house

Tracting got us like...

 Beyblades, talk about nostalgia

She's a comin'!

Tja! This was one of the better weeks of my mission and I keep looking forward to everyday in Vendelsö. This area is one of those areas where it has negative stereotypes coming in since it's a tiny area and missionaries have struggled to have success but there's so much potential! The Lord has missionaries here for a reason! 

We met a family yesterday from Bolivia while tracting that let us right in. It's a husband, wife, and their 8 year old daughter. The parents speak some swedish but the daughter was fluent in both so she explained whatever her parents didn't understand in Spanish to them. It was a powerful lesson and they seem pretty prepared. Elder Baquedano are really excited to go back there next week with a Spanish speaking member and teach them more restored truths of the gospel. 

We had an amazing lesson with our investigator Mikael this week. We taught about repentance and how he can become clean and free from the burdens and guilt he has in his life. Elder Baquedano and I felt prompted to have him pray right there with us to ask for forgiveness from sins as well as ask if baptism was right for him. Mikael offered a humble but heartfelt prayer and the Spirit enveloped the room. After the prayer we asked Mikael how he felt and he just kept opening his mouth but no words came out, he couldn't put his feelings into words but it was peace and lightness and a content feeling was what he finally came upon. We challenged him right there to be baptized on April 2nd and he accepted! None of that lesson was Elder Baquedano or I and we know it. It's incredible what can happen when we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. 

3 Nephi 17: 21-22. In order to be like Christ, we have to be vulnerable, we have to open ourselves up. It's so easy in the world we live in today with technology and especially in a not so sociable place like Sweden to close ourselves off. It might be uncomfortable or awkward but opening ourselves up and having personal, face to face, human interactions with people is a part of becoming like our Savior. It's something I really am trying to work on and I've felt the difference it's made in my relationships with other people and how strong of a bong you can build with someone if you're just honest and genuine and open. 

Love you all! Peace and blessings! 

Äldste Hainsworth

 Branberg where we spend most of our time

  The new chapel in Handen that will be done next month! 

Puzzle masters

From Aussie to Frenchie

This week I shipped out of southern Sweden and landed in Vendelsö, south of Stockholm. Vendelsö is the second smallest area in Europe, it's mostly neighborhoods and meets in the chapel in Väster Haninge right by the Stockholm temple. It's got a big ward with lots of young families and little kids which makes for some loud sacrament meetings. I love Swedish kids, little kid Swedish is the cutest thing. Here's a brief bio on Elder Baquedano:

-From southwest France about 2 hours from Spain

-Cooks great food

-Probably speaks better English then me

-Went to a couple years of college before the mish

-We have the same birthday!!!

The work here is really different than what I'm used to, I've already contacted the same person twice on accident in the time I've been here so it's not the big city missionary life anymore. It's exciting meeting all the members, they're all very nice and welcoming. Our investigator pool is good but kind of stale, they're not making much progress so Elder Baquedano and I are gonna get things going, this area has a ton of potential! 

District meeting was a bit nerve racking but this district is the best, I lucked out. We've got six missionaries, Sister Svensson (from Helsingborg) and Sister Giles, then Elder Dickson and Elder Rowley. It's been a good time.

John 6:66-69: "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." This something I've been pondering quite a bit recently as I've reflected on my life and the path I've taken in order to achieve happiness in my life. I want to bear my testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of all my happiness and I have no regrets being a disciple of Jesus Christ. It has changed me.  

Love y'all! 

Äldste Hainsworth

 Did I really do it?

When I was all alone (explained above)

 Elder Baquedano is a stud

 Taste of the new apartment

Headed to the Big City

Tjenare allesammans! 

This week was transfers and the results are in, after 9 months of serving in Skåne I'll be headed up to south Stockholm to serve in Vendelsö as a district leader. What I know about Vendelsö: apparently it's a pretty small area with a pretty big ward. What I know about my companion: he's from France. That's about it. The back to back international companions is exciting stuff though, I guess God wants me to be more cultured or something...Elder Scott will be staying here and getting Elder Olson from the office, he's been out about a year and a half so he's in good hands. Elder Nielsen will be transferring to Stockholm as well, he'll be serving in downtown Stockholm in the heart of the city and Elder Mason will be getting Elder Duwors in Landskrona. 

The Relief Society had their yoga night and of course we were invited so that was a good time as always, us 4 missionaries and a bunch of moms (shoutout to mother Tidball!)

This is the second area where the last sunday before I transfer out we get a new bishopric, it happened in Kungsbacka too! After 7 years of dedicated service, Bishop Helmstad is handing over the keys of authority to our new Bishop, Bishop Wagner. He's got some big goals and aspirations with this ward and told us specifically that the missionary work in this ward is going to get a kick in the butt so I'm excited to see even more growth in the Helsingborg ward. We had a YSA activity at Bishop Wagner's on sunday night and it was sad saying bye to everyone but so good to hangout with them one last time. That's what a mission's all about, the people. They're the cause of your greatest sorrows and greatest joys, hopefully more on the joy side though. Helsingborg will always have a special place in my heart. 

I just want to take a second and talk about Elder Scott, my mission son. Being companions with Elder Scott has strengthened my testimony that God really knows us personally and knows our needs perfectly. Elder Scott has helped me to learn and grow in ways that I know I couldn't have done myself. He's been diligent and I've seen his love for the people grow as we've been together. Our time together hasn't been easy, we've seen more than our fair share of rejection and disappointment but how could you get down on yourself with that Australian accent ya know? Appreciate everything Elder Scott and I'm expecting to hear big things about you down the road! Cheers bruz! 

I was on splits with Elder Nielsen this week in Landskrona and we went by and shared a simple message with a Danish member in Landskrona, Brother Pettersen. Brother Pettersen joined the church a couple years ago and is an example to me of how the gospel can change lives. He used to be single, drank, partied, got in fights, until he met his current wife who was a member of the church. He saw the light and hope the gospel brings as he started going to church with his wife and putting his life in order with God. He now is an active member of the church and him and his wife have the cutest baby. The gospel of Jesus Christ really is a gospel of change. 

Have a fantastic week and remember, it's never too late to change. Hope is never lost. Never.

Love you all! 

Äldste Hainsworth

 Laserdome with the Skåne missionaries

 Some milk balls from Bai and Terry for Chinese New Year

 Good ole Klas

  Örjan, one of my favorite members

Bye Fei! 

Gonna miss the Ocasio family!

Bai and Terry

 Not Cool Ranch, Cool American

Sushi with the district and Bai and Terry

Hump Dayyyy

I hit my year mark this last week, it seriously felt like yesterday I was grabbing some Cafe Rio in Provo with Ming and my dad before reporting to the MTC and starting this crazy up and down adventure we like to call a mission. It feels good to have my wits about me a bit more now and I can hopefully use the experience I've gained to make this next year of my mission that much better. Anyways onto the week, it's been one of those weeks where I feel like my heads been down the whole week just working and pushing for things to happen and I'm just know raising my head up and processing how everything went. If that makes sense...It was a great week in any case. 

Elder Scott had this crazy idea to set a ridiculously high goal for contacts and other lessons this week to push ourselves and talk to everyone everywhere. I figured why not go for it as long as we're committed. It amazed me how much I stopped caring about the little stuff and focused on the goals and our extended vision in our daily activities. The high goals forced us to be full time instead of just fill time missionaries and consider if everything we were doing was the BEST thing we could be doing, not just a good or better thing than something else. That's really how it is with everything in life though, there's so much offered to us in the world today and it's really when we focus on the best things we can be doing with our time and our foundational values that govern our priorities like God, our families, helping other people, that real growth happens and we find contentment. 

On another note though, Elder Scott turned 20 on Sunday! Shout out to my mom for sending some Australian goodies that I could gift to Elder Scott. He was stoked to open those up. I'd never had any of them but the mint slices were pretty good, they were like a thin mint mixed with a peppermint patty. We had dinner with the Wagner's after church and sang the classic Swedish birthday song and had some treats together. 

We went to the temple on saturday with the Helsingborg ward and that was a fantastic experience as always. There's a peace and serenity in the temple that can't be felt anywhere else. We got a ride with our ward mission leader, Svein Åge, and his wife and it was fun travelling to Denmark with them. We got back from the temple saturday afternoon and since you can't just have peace and happiness all day everyday we were welcomed back to Helsingborg with a nice riot going on in downtown. A soccer team from Göteborg had just played against Helsingborg and lost 3-1 and so some Helsingborg fans were rubbing it in to Göteborg and some fights were breaking out. There was a ton of police and one fight broke out a couple feet from Elder Scott and I. We were standing watching all the happenings safely on the other side of the street from the big aggressive group of Göteborg fans and suddenly one of them pointed across the street towards us and yelled "Helsingborg?". We were confused but a guy next to us shouted "ja Helsingborg" and so the big group of dudes started running towards this guy right next to us to beat him up and Elder Scott and I just took off running down the street since the guys are all our age and we didn't want to get caught up in the action. The police intervened pretty fast and broke it up and we stayed safe. 

Here's a cool story that's unfolding right now. So the Wagners are an awesome member family and Casper Wagner's girlfriend, Victoria, learned about the church and was baptized through that association. Sara Wagner has a boyfriend named Timmy who we've hungout with a couple times while at the Wagner's house. Elder Scott really hit it off with Timmy, who's 15, cause they both love League of Legends and use all these terms and inside jokes that go right over my head when I'm with them. Anyways, Timmy came to church on Sunday since it was Elder Scott's birthday and stayed for all three hours! Then he came to play laser tag with us yesterday on p-day and hungout with us the entire day while we got lunch and went around Helsingborg. He said he's coming to church next week too. Timmy's the coolest dude ever, really shy at first but talkative and really down to earth once you get to know him. 

I love the people here in Sweden and I'm thankful that I have another year to serve them.

Peace and blessings,

Äldste Hainsworth

 Copenhagen Temple

Things gettin serious