Quad-lingual

Letter sent January 25, 2016:

I feel like as time goes on my letters might just get more and more boring. Apologies. 

So last mMnday a ton of missionaries got together at the YSA center in Stockholm for a surprise going away party for Äldste Sahlin. If this mission has a celebrity, it's Äldste Sahlin. Everybody loves and adores him and he's just so good. I feel like good is an underrated word. Because, wow, he is good. So that was really fun to see some of my cutest little baby friends from the MTC who I love with my whole heart.

Also this week we had a worldwide missionary conference that we got to watch. Elder Bednar and Oaks and Anderson and some other guys spoke and it and it was sooo good. Our internet was so jenky at the church so it kept pausing every 5 minutes but we actually loved it because during the pauses we would discuss with the elders what had just been said and how we can better help the people that we meet with. The theme of the conference was, *Teach repentance and baptize converts." After they had said the phrase a few times one of our fabulous pauses happened and we all turned to each other and were like "WAIT. THAT IS ACTUALLY THE COOLEST LITTLE PHRASE EVER." 'baptize converts.' Like honestly, who thinks of these things. Geniuses. 

Also this week I organized my desk. This seems like a little thing but holy cow basically my whole life is different now. All the books are lined up from biggest to smallest and it is just so satisfying. Also probably I'll learn so much better now that there's no mess and I'll be a ton better missionary and cool stuff like that. 

So turns out I'm actually quad lingual right now. You don't believe it do you? Yeah, you all thought I was coming here just to learn one language but apparently I've learned three. All three of my new languages are at different stages of development.

 The first is obviously Swedish. That's at a mediocre stage of development.

 The second, is Norwegian. We were talking to people on the street the other day and I said something and the guy was like, "Sorry, are you speaking Norwegian?" Me and Syster Crawford then began playing the Glad Game. Which is where you say things that you're glad for until you're actually glad. So instead of wallowing in the depths of pity where people think that my Swedish is Norwegian I just decided to be glad that apparently I know more languages.

(PS the glad game is actually hilarious and so effective. The funniest stories and when the elders play. The game is supposed to be like, I'm glad I'm alive. I'm glad it's not raining. I'm glad people will talk to us. I'm grateful for you. And then you realize that you actually have so many things to be glad about. But when the elders play it they just say things that they're actually not glad about and then it turns into a hating game. But guess what, still effective. Because then you just think you're hilarious for saying things you hate instead of love and that makes you glad.)

And my third language is Charades. I'm fully developed in this language. Completely fluent. Haha I have never used acting so much in my life. The people here actually use they're hands a lot as they speak but sometimes I just have to overly use my hands so people understand what I say. A couple days ago we taught the restoration to a man who speaks arabic and just a little bit of Swedish. Basically the whole lesson was in Charades. Haha it was hilarious and so fun. So yeah, I'm quad-lingual. Impressive right?

You all will be happy to know that I have accomplished the impossible and gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday. In case you don't understand why this was such an accomplishment, let me tell you. First. I do not know how to talk in front of people. Hence, my farewell talk. Straight read the whole thing. But alas, as a missionary there is actually no time to write a whole talk so you are forced to wing things. So yeah, I winged a talk. No big deal. Mom, I talked about your motto of Find out what the Lord wants you to do, and then have the courage to do it. And like, hey it was in Swedish so that was pretty legit. 

I am serving in the BEST ward in the whole entire world. I love them. Afterwards so many people were like wow you did so good! You sound like a Swede. You've only been here 6 weeks? How kind. But legit, I love these people. During the final speaker I was just like Swedished out and I didn't really know what he was talking about so I was just thinking my own thoughts and I just got so sad that one day I'll have to leave this ward. And then I was just crying and I think the speaker was actually telling a funny story and people were chuckling so hopefully nobody looked at me. I love them SO much I can't even handle it.

Also yesterday at church me and Syster Crawford and the Elders were actually losing our minds because so many people came to church. Like 4 people that we had never even had a lesson with and then investigators. We had to use all of the English translation thingy's and we were like frantically trying to find members to sit with all of them. It was awesome. 

Well, I love you all! I hope you all have fabulous weeks.

Oh, first let me just tell you that Swedish is such a convenient language because they have a specific word for when you're living with a person but you aren't married to them.

Pretty sure in America you just have to say, "They're living with a person but they aren't married to them." Excessive amounts of words. Also they have a verb for grocery shopping that isn't the same as shopping. So then you just have to say one word. CONVENIENT. (Also annoying because they have no accurate translation of the word 'excited.' This actually makes me annoyed daily because I reaaaally want to say that I'm excited for things.) 

But, I love it here. I love these people. And I love you all.

Have a fab week.

Kram,

Syster May

Here's me with my cute name badge.  

Also:  

So this past week we got two baptismal dates. They're both with Swedish people. This is like UNHEARD of in Sweden. Grated a baptismal date is not a for sure thing. Just a goal we set up with investigators to work towards and then if they're ready by that date, they get baptized. This is like a miracle for 2 reasons. One, TWO BAPTISMAL DATES IN ONE WEEK. No way. Like, the assistants to the president told us a few weeks ago that on a typical week, all the missionaries in Sweden combined get 4 or 5 baptismal dates. And we got 2. Second reason it's crazy is that they are both full on legit SWEDISH people. Like, probably 90% of the people taught here are African or some other race but just live in Sweden. But they're both Swedish! So me and Syster Crawford are super super excited! The first is with Rune (20 februari) and the second is with Svante (5 march). Rune is the coolest. They're both like 60 year old men and I just love them. Also the elders here in Jakobsberg got a baptismal date with a legit Swedish man (his wife is a member) this week too. So basically we're just losing our minds here in Jakobsberg. Like, we don't even know what's happening. It's so cool. 

Hejsan

Letter sent January 18, 2016: 

Kallhell

So this week I have a few funny stories for you. Well, they were funny to me. And missionary humor could be completely unfunny but like hey, you guys are the ones who signed up for this email so no apologies. 

First, I think I could beat anyone in a staring contest at this point in my life. Because I had the ultimate practice at the beginning of this week. We went to swing by a less active member and he opened the door in literally just some small whitey-tighty underwear. And apparently felt sufficiently comfortable in his attire to hold a 30 minutes conversation with us. I have never realized how much you don't actually look at a persons face when you talk to them. He probably thought I was literally psycho because my eyes were just bulging by the end of the 30 minutes. My contacts had just dried out because I was staring and not blinking for so long. Looking back, I'm not sure why I wasn't blinking but it seemed necessary so I would keep looking at his face. Anyways, I thought it was hilarious. And he had a cast on one of his feet so he kept pointing down so we would look at it. And me and Syster Crawford were just like staring into his eyes pretending to be looking at the cast. At the beginning I was just laughing everytime he would turn to look at syster Crawford instead of me. like out loud. Good times.

Second funny story. On Thursday we had district meeting. Our district leader always sends out a text with the program for the meeting the night before. So like opening song, prayer, Christ thought, etc. For the opening song he put '"Sail" by Awolnation.' I read it and was laughing and then Syster Crawford was like, "I don't think I've ever heard the hymn awolnation." But she read it out in Swedish so it came out like, "A-wall-nah-hone" It was hilarious. 

Third and funniest story. A couple days ago we were cleaning the church with Nicki and she was telling us how Sweden musicfestival is about to start which is how Sweden chooses their contestants for a European competition called EurVision. Which apparently is just a singing competition for all of Europe. But it's not really super good and professional singing-more like funny but still really good singing. I don't really know. Anyways, all the countries give other countries points and then whoever has the most points wins and then hosts it the next year. But she said the points are basically just given out based on alliances. Like Ireland always give England a 10. But England never gives Ireland any points. And Sweden and Finland give each other 10's. Norway will give Sweden a 5, etc. Then she said, "And the countries next to Russia always give Russia a 10. It's not because their songs are good, it's just so they won't attack them." Basically WW3 is going to start based on the point system for EurVision. So that was chill. I was laughing so hard. She was talking in English so it was probably a combination of what she said and he swedish accent that made it so funny.

After district meeting on Thursday we also had Äldste Sahlin's funeral. Don't worry he didn't actually die. That's just what this mission calls it when their mission is over. They die and we have a funeral for them. It was actually like the saddest thing of my whole life. He's probably the most Christlike person I have ever met. We all had little tea lights and all went around and said the Light that Äldste Sahlin had left with us and then put the tea lights on the table and so many people were just crying because literally everyone just loves him. 

We went over to the bishops house for dinner this week and their family just reminds me of ours. The mom talks and carries the conversation for the most part. And the bishop was just actually hilarious but kind of quiet and he just reminded me so much of dad. 

Also we have our Swedish investigator, Rune, who reminds me a toooon of grandpa. Looks, personality, everything. He met with missionaries about 30 years ago when he lived in Boden but then he wanted to meet with us again now. He's reading and studying the book of mormon and he legit wants to know that it's true. We told him that if he ever has questions he can text or call us. So the other day he sent us a text with 10 questions from the book of mormon on it. Everytime he texts us he ends with "Er elev, Rune" which just makes my little heart so happy. "Your student" it's just so cute and funny. I alla fall. We had an awesome lesson with him yesterday with a member in our ward, Anders, who we absolutely love. We talked a little bit about the questions that he had asked us and Andes talked about how he became a convert to the church. One of the questions he had asked was where the river that Lehi named after Laman exists today. Anders was talking and he was like, "I promise that if you keep on reading and studying that you'll find out where the river exists. You'll find where it exists in you heart even if you never find it on a map." Just like, jökgäppoäaöij. Are you kidding. I'm barely spitting out Swedish and there's people creating pure brilliance with the language. It was legit and the spirit was so strong. It was especially cool because none of it was how we had planned. We had planned a different member and a different lesson and then all these tiny miracles happened so that we could have the literal perfect lesson for him. for what he needed.

The Lord cares about the individual. He cares about every single one of us. The things he does and helps so make happen; they're all for the individual. So that we can bless one person. Help one person. I know God loves each one of us. And that's what I get to do here in Sweden, help him to bless the individuals. Help brighten or change a person's day or week or life. I love it. 

Have a fab fab week.

Love,

Syster May

Oh, also I'm staying in Jakobsberg for the next transfer. No surprise because greenies normally always stay in their areas with their trainers.

The perfect snowflake!  It's HUGE!  The other flecks are how snow normally is.

Översätte Sakraments Möte

Letter sent January 11, 2016:

I don't have very much time today but we'll see how much I can spit out. My fingers are becoming slower in typing. Also I don't know if that sentence made complete sense in English. 

Okay, some highlights of the week. 

Yesterday I translated in Sacrament meeting. Normally Syster Crawford or Äldste Halterman translate the meeting but then Syster Crawford got asked to lead the music so she had to sit on the stand and Äldste Halterman had to give a talk. So I had to translate his talk. He translated the rest of the meeting luckily. Because he is way easier to understand than actual native Swedes. But yeah! I actually like knew what he was saying and there was one time when I was just like uhhhh. But for the most part I could do it! I was just like praying the whole time and during one part he was talking about sharing the gospel with his swim team and I just was sooo grateful that my MTC teacher is on the Ballroom dance team at BYU because we all learned the word for "team" because of that. Otherwise I would have had no idea what he was talking about. 

Another day this week as we were walking to a train station we were contacting and we we talking to this couple and they couldn't speak Swedish so we were talking to them in English. They didn't have very much time so we were just going to give them our card that has the mormon.org webiste on it. So I gave it to them and in Swedish I would normally say like, "Ni kan tita på hemsida och vårt nummer finns på baksidan." "hemsida" means homepage. but also sometimes I say websida (webiste, duh). Haha but in English it was just such a struggle. I was like, "You can go to our home....site." Like, no. That is not english. It was rough. 

Also mom, the brand of yogurt here that is everywhere is just called "YO" so basically I fit in perfectly here. Everybody should just call yogurt "yo"

Also I have decided that I basically have to dehydrate myself to be an effective missionary because if I drink then I literally have to go to the bathroom every 2 minutes. Plus you have to pay for bathrooms. So they don't just exist everywhere. It's a hard life.

Okay, the kindest thing happened yesterday. So last week on Sunday as we were riding the train to church I had made up my mind that I was going to talk to somebody on the train. I always have to build up my courage because it's just embarrassing and I never know what to say to them. So I sat down and started talking to the guy across from me. He was so nice and from Africa and we talked about his job and I told him I was going to church and stuff and we told each other our names, etc. Then I got off after like 5 minutes and totally forgot about him. But then yesterday as we got off the train before church Syster Crawford got my attention and pointed towards the train, and there he was! He was like, "Syster May! How are you!?" (in swedish) and I was just about in tears because he remembered my name and me and just wow somebody in Sweden actually knows who I am and even though he isn't even investigating I made a difference. And it was such a small thing but so big to me. 

This week was really cool. At the beggining of the week the Assistants sent out a mass text to everyone saying that this week we were all going to have a challenge that each companionship would try to get one new baptismal date. The whole week it was super cool because our district leaders would all call us and see how our days had gone and what we had done. And it was just cool to know that everyone was praying for everyone. The assistants are in our district so at district meeting on Friday they were telling us how the challenge was going and they told us how many baptismal dates normally get called in every week and they told us how many had already been called in this week and the number was 3 times as many! It was so exciting and such a good way to start off the year; with everyone so excited and working together. It was amazing to see what all of our prayers could do. How the Lord strengthened us and made us capable of so much more. How he prepared his children to accept baptismal dates as we tried our hardest.

It was a great week. Also yesterday and literally perfect snowflake fell onto my scarf right in front of me. I'm so sad we forgot our phone cord so I can't attach the picture. But the snowflake was like as big as a dime and actually just perfect and detailed. I've never seen a snowflake so big. I just stopped right in the middle of walking and was like freaking out to take a picture.

I hope you all have a fab week. And go sledding and skiing and all those fun wintery activities. Like please someone just snuggle up in a blanket with hot chocolate and watch a movie for me please. Thanks.

Kärlek,

Syster May

Happy and Content

A portion of a letter sent Jan. 4, 2016:

MOM GUESS WHAT. You know how I always want these fuzzy zip up pajamas? There's this lady in our ward. Lisbeth. I was with her on Christmas, I think I sent a picture. I absolutely LOVE her. So much. Yesterday we were at her house visiting her and she was going to drive us back to the train station and before we left she was like, "Wait! let me put on this new suit I got for Christmas!" And it was a zip up fuzzy pajama suit! It had legs, but not footies at the bottom. And she came out and was shaking her hips. It was so funny. And then she was like, "and look at this in case my face gets cold" and she zipped it all the way up and it was one of those things where the hood zips up in front of your face so your whole head is covered. It was so cute and hilarious. She must be my bosom friend because she has one of those pajamas. When we got out of the car at the station she rolled down the window as she drove past us and was blaring music and dancing in her car. because she knows she can't listen to it when we're with her. (it was just regular music, not spiritual). Oh, I love her.

I'm very happy and content. Here's a quote that I read this past week that I really liked by Neil A. Maxwell, "When we are unduly impatient with an omniscient God's timing, we really are suggesting we know what is best. Strange, isn't it--we who wear wristwatches seek to counsel Him who oversees cosmic clocks and calendars."

I know that God has a plan and a calendar. And that everything happens when it's supposed to happen. There's a reason that I didn't go on a mission until I was 20. There's a time when these people we teach will accept the gospel whether it's when we teach them or not. I know that God loves us and that his plan is the one that's going to help us the most. 

Love, 

Syster May

First Snow!

Okay, here are pictures of where I live as requested by mom. We live in the side of a house. Which is different from the rest of the mission, they all live in apartments. Everyone is jealous of us when they find out. They're like, "wait what?? you guys have wifi???" (Yes, wifi is still a concern here..I know dad thought my struggles would end, alas, they have not) 

We use our phones a ton just to get places, google maps. It's suuuuper helpful because otherwise we would just have no idea which buses or trains to take or where to go. But everyone is jealous because we can listen to conference talks in the morning and it doesn't waste our data that we need to use google maps while we're out.

This is a panoramic so everything looks a little jenky, but this is it.  That's Syster Crawford's desk in the picture and I'm standing by mine so all you can see is the tiny corner of it in the left corner.

My desk!  Yay!  Where I spend the first 4 hours of the day.  (One of my favorite times because it's WARM)

Here's the house from the outside. I took this the first night that it snowed. So cute. The main people who live in the house are a super nice muslim couple. They saved our lives when we lost our phone. we love them. They bring us things to help us. Like a fan and a strange little humidity contraption that fills up with water. Basically our apartment is the most humid thing and the ventilation doesn't work. But I'm fine with it because it makes it way way warm. We live on the bottom, right side.