sea2swe: Getting the Ball Rollin'

Hey there! Hope everyone had a great general conference week!

We got to meet with a few investigators who are positive but just haven't been able to meet since I've gotten to the area, the ball is rollin in Vendelsö'! We had a lesson with Mayra, a curious South American lady who accepted what we taught her really well. She is excited to read and pray and find out for herself if the things we've taught her about are true. We also had our old mission leader on the mission which was a big help.

We taught Cecilia for the first time since I've been here, she's an older Taiwanese lady who lives relatively close to us. She is struggling with the lack of acceptace from her husband and family for investigating the church and having a faith in general. Despite the animosity her faith is strong and she has a bright HOPE in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is willing to put in the effort to read and pray and come to know Jesus Christ and the truths that are taught in His gospel.

Mikael's brother is still lying in the coma in the hospital and family always comes first so we're just trying to be the best friends and support possible as he goes through this difficult trial. That's an important part of helping people progress as missionaries is we've got to take care of other things standing in the way of the path to baptism and progression even if those things aren't directly leading them down the path of membership at this very moment. It's a process that can only come about with the Lord's timing in mind.

General conference was great, we watched it in the Church in Väster Haninge. Here's some thoughts from my personal preparation and reflection...Acts 1:2 "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen". Just because Christ has ascended from His earthly ministry here on the earth does not mean the direction of the church has changed one bit. Jesus Christ is still the chief cornerstone and guides and directs this church through living prophets and apostles. Listening to conference was uplifting and inspiring and I left with a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ than I came with. A talk that really stood out to me was "Do I Believe?" by Bonnie L. Oscarson. She said "Do we sometimes become so accustomed to the blessings we have been given as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we fail to fully comprehend the miracle and majesty of discipleship in the Lord’s true Church? ...To believe, we need to get the gospel from our heads into our hearts!...the blessings and peace the Lord has in store for those who are obedient and faithful exceed anything the human mind can comprehend." How true that is.

Varma Hälsningar från Sverige,

Äldste Hainsworth