Glad Allahjärtansdag!‏

Letter sent February 15, 2016

Okay mom, I'll give you a detailed letter. I hope this is adequate. I actually have no idea how Jared does it, he must have A)super good memory and B)10 hours to write. 

Monday: I woke up and exercised for a half hour. Then got ready from 7-8. I probably ate bran flakes with a banana in it for breakfast. We washed our clothes, which is a struggle because we just have a washer, no dryer. So we have to hang everything up which takes up a ton of room in our apartment. We did our personal study and companionship study for an hour each and then came to the church to email. After we emailed we went to Willy's to go grocery shopping. Our staples that we have to buy every week are pears, apples, yellow bell peppers, peanut butter, milk, and bread. They only sell teeny things of peanut butter here so we literally use a whole thing every week. I have become obsessed with peanut butter, pears, and yellow bell peppers wince being here. We dropped our groceries off at home, probably ate a sandwich, and then hurried over to Emily Mitchell's house (a member in our ward who lives in Kallhäll) so that she could cut Syster Crawford's hair. She's from America so we spoke English the whole time which was nice. Then we went down to Sundbyberg to this little cafe to eat dinner before we ended our p day at 6. P day's always end at 6 which is actually super smart because it gets us fully back into missionary mode. At the cafe I got a chicken Caesar salad. Classic. Then we went and visited a girl who moved into our ward recently but is less active. Her name is Jay. She comes from Taiwain. She is living with her boyfriend right now but she wants to come back to church. She said we could come visit her weekly. She knows what she is doing is wrong and says she feels bad when she comes to church. But her and her boyfriend are engaged I think so hopefully that won't be too hard of an obstacle to help her get over so that she can become fully active and living the commandments again. The lesson went way over time so we just had to travel home after that. We ran to the station to catch our bus. I think I run more than I ever have in my life here. We are constantly chasing buses and trains.

Tuesday: Woke up and exercised. Probably I ate bran flakes with a banana again for breakfast. We did personal study, comp study, språk (language), then had lunch. Then we hurried out to go to a lesson we had with a man named Erik. We tracted into him a few weeks ago and finally set up a meeting with him. We taught him about the Godhead. He had lot's of interesting ideas like that he lived on Earth 60 million years ago and that we all have antennas in our heads and that is how we communicate with God. So that was interesting. He said he would read in the Book or Mormon and pray about it so that is good. We hope we can meet with him again. Then we went all the way up to Bålsta. Lisbeth (member) drove us again from the Bro station up to Rune's house in Bålsta because our bus cards don't work up there. I love Lisbeth. She always come's to Rune's lessons with us so that we can be there with him. We have to have either 3 girls or 3 boys in every lesson. This lesson was so much better than our previous one with Rune. He didn't have any anti stuff. The feeling was so much more calm and the spirit was there. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ--faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost, and enduring to the end. He had done as we had challenged him and went through the book of mormon looking for things that he agrees with instead of what he doesn't hold with. We had talked to him Monday night and he had asked if there was anything specific that he could read to prepare so we had him read 2 nephi 31 which talks about all these things. So during the lesson he had looked up lot's of scriptures in the Bible that talked about baptism also. He was like, "it already says this in the bible, look." We were like, "yes, we know. the book of mormon and bible go together. The support each other. We believe in the bible." He's so close to understanding. I don't know if he's just being stubborn or if it just really isn't clicking. But we were all very glad after that lesson. Then we came back to the church to have a lesson with another investigator, Solomon. We talked about the Godhead with him as well. He's someone who Syster Crawford had met with before I came a little but who I had never met. His phone was broken for like a month. But now we're hoping that he'll be ready to start progressing. Then we went to a lesson with a guy named Diego. We met Diego last Sunday. There's this girl visiting Sweden for 7 weeks, Gabriela, from Peru who is in our ward right now. She speaks english and Spanish. Last week after church we practiced a lesson with her and she said she definitely wants to come with us on lessons so we were like, "okay. We will find a Spanish investigator so that you can help us!" So we went out that Sunday night and BOOM! Met Diego! He speaks Spanish and english, same as Gabriela. And he's even from Peru! So we met with Diego Tuesday night and Gabriela came with us. We taught him the godhead and part of the restoration. It was super cool and Gabriela bore her testimony in Spanish and we're really excited about him. Then we went home, did 12 week (12 week is a program for a missionaries first 12 weeks to help them learn. we do it every day), ate dinner. I have no idea what we ate for dinner. Then we planned for Wednesday.

Wednesday: We woke up, exercised, ate breakfast (probs bran flakes again), got ready. We had time for all of our studies this morning. So personal study, comp study, språk, lunch, then 12 week. Then we went to Sundbyberg and met with Ise, our less active who isn't less active anymore! We taught him about the priesthood because he's going to receive the Aaronic priesthood next week or the week after. I adore Ise. Then we went to Bromma to meet with Martin, another new investigator. We met him in Bromma last week and he was just like sure, you can have my number. We were like, okay cool. So we met with him in a hotel lobby that he said was okay. It felt weird. Matts Westerlund came with us on the lesson (he's a member). We talked about the godhead in this lesson too. Martin kind of reminds me of Ethan in a strange old man way. Then we went and met with Kristin, who also lives in Bromma. She is a less active but she is the absolute best. She always takes notes on the things that we say. Last week we gave her a little binder labeled "Kristin's anteckningsbok" and she absolutely adore's it. We talked to her about the sabbath day and keeping it holy and about how she can be visiting teacher. She was like, "Ya, I want to do that but I don't know very much. Also, I would like to translate sacrament meeting. Also, it would be fun to be able to go into the primary and work in there. Also, I really like to plan activities." So basically she wants every single calling haha! I love love her. I was saying the closing prayer and said something like "thanks for that we could visit Kristin. We know you love her, and we love her too." And she just whispers right then, "I love you too!" haha it was the best. Then we came home and ate super snabbt and planned for Thursday.

Thursday: We had district meeting. So we did the normal routine in the morning of exercise and get ready. Most likely I had bran flakes again but I might have mixed it up and had crunchy instead. Still with bananas on top. We had personal study then traveled to Täby for district meeting. Our distrikt meetings are always sooo good. Äldste Halterman is such a good distrikt leader. We talked about how we can know and be true converts and make sure that the people we teach are true converts as well. Then we had district lunch. We went to Chop Chop. It was kind of like Panda Express. But not as good obviously because nothing compares to panda express. Then we traveled back to Spånga to meet with a lady we met last week named Kerstin. (pronounced Sheer-steen). She is super old and sooo cute. Her husband died about 4 years ago and she has the big family that she just loves. She showed us her house and it was just darling. She had some art stuff on the walls that I new you would have liked. Also this big grandfather clock that you and your sisters would have lost your minds over. It was perfect. We talked about the Book of Mormon with her and why our church is different from the Swedish Church. Then we went to Family Manell. They live in Rissne. We go over to the house probably every other week to help out with Family Home Evening. It's like being at home. The kids are crazy and hard to make sit still. But they are darling. They have two kids, Jakob and Camilla. We played Simon says and talked about obedience and how when we love people we want to do what they ask. Camilla is about 7 and she was in charge of picking who said the prayers. So she picked me for the opening prayer and then when it was time for the closing prayer she picked me again. Haha I don't know if this is because it's comical to listen to me or what. I was like, noo, I want to hear you pray! She said she was nervous and Syster Crawford was like, "What is Syster May helps you?" Camilla immediately jumped up and knelt down next to me and squished herself against me so I could help her pray. It made my heart so happy. Quite honestly, it was one of the happiest moments I've had out here. Then commenced a laughable situation where I would whisper things for her to say and then she would say them with the right pronunciation and grammar haha. I was like, please, I need your help. Afterwards we traveled to Stockholm to the YSA center to have a lesson with a guy named Viktor who we met a couple weeks ago. He's about 27. He works in Stockholm stan so it was easier to meet there. Our ward mission leader came also to be on the lesson. It was actually a really awesome lesson. We taught the restoration and talked a ton about prayer and how God answers our prayers. We're super sad though because he's moving to Stockholm this week so he won't be in our area anymore and we'll have to give him away to other missionaries. Then we came home and planned. 

Friday: We had the normal morning routine. Personal study, comp study, språk, lunch, 12 week. Then we went and visited Inger. Inger is a new convert. She was baptized in October I think. We meet with her every week. I absolutely love her. We talked about the story of Peter walking on the water and how when we focus on Christ, everything will work out. That Christ is always there for us ready to stretch out his hand immediately when we fall. Then we went to the church to meet with Rune. Nicki came with us on his lesson. He told us that he's taking a break. That he doesn't want to meet with us anymore right now because he needs to focus on finding a job and his family so he doesn't have time. We asked him to continue to read in the Book of Mormon even if he wasn't going to keep meeting with us for just 5 minutes every day. He said no because "it's never just 5 minutest." Basically when he reads, he loves reading, so he just keeps reading. So confusing. Like, to us that would be part of an answer. That he loves it; it's so good. He's really searching for inner peace and comfort that he see's in members of the church. I hope that he'll feel the desire again sometime to meet with missionaries so that he can realize that he can find that inner peace by living the gospel. It was actually devastating. We were super ledsen. Buutttt, Nicki got her mission call this week! She's leaving in June to go to the Temple Square mission! We're so excited and we're going to go through the temple with her in a couple weeks! After the lesson with Rune she said, "I see the downside of missionary work now." It was just like mehhh, we don't know what to do. There's nothing we can say that will change your mind. Then we went and met with Marilu and Louis, a couple originally from south america. Marilu is preparing to go through the temple right now so we talked about that with them. Then came home and had probably like 2 seconds to eat and then plan.

Saturday: We did all studies, but not 12 week because we were going to weekly plan. We went and helped Gunhild Manell with moving boxes of baby clothes to their storage closet in their building. She's pregnant right now and the doctor has told her not to lift. After we helped with that, we had a short lesson with her and Camilla. And guess who Camilla wanted to say the closing prayer....you guessed it...ME! Haha they are probably getting sick of my Swedish. Then we went and visited Laila. She's about 15 I think and she's less active. Her mom, Hisako, is active and likes us to come meet with her. We talked about service and how our love compels us to serve those around us. On our way back to the tunnelbana station we met this guy who like sang us songs he had made up about how he believes and is dissappointed in the world today. I laughed for only like 3 second which was a miracle. Then we went home and weekly planned. Weekly planning takes like 3 hours so that took up the rest of our night. 

Sunday: Yesterday! Maybe I'll be able to remember better. We woke up, no exercises (changing it up on Sundays), got ready, I ate bran flakes. No surprise there. Wait, one day this week I had scrambled eggs, I don't know which one. Then we had personal study and then went to the church. Then we had church from 11-2. During sacrament meeting I sat on the row of ladies. At least that's what I like to call it. All the single old ladies sit together on the third row in the chapel. I joined them because Irene was at home healing from knee surgery. I sat by Elsa and she told me my nail polish color was interesting, which coming from her is a very nice compliment. After church we ate and did comp study and the church. We talked to this lady with the elders for probably 15 minutes about the difference in how you say "känna" and "tjäna" and "tjena". They literally all sound so similar. Mostly the känna and tjäna are like identical. Almost. You can only tell the difference when a native Swede says them. And känna means "to touch or to know a person" and tjäna means "to serve" so you use them in the same place in sentences which is just confusing. Afterwards we went out and tracted in Jakobsberg. Then we went home and did språk and 12 week, ate, planned and went to bed. 

Today we are going to go to the Vasa museum. That's the museum with the big war ship that sunk. I'm super excited for that! 

This week we saw the sun!! Normally it's just light during the day but you never actually see the sun. But this week we had actual sun rays coming into our house! Syster Crawford was like, ugh this is so annoying, the sun is in my eyes. And now we're like, waaaait, the sun was in your eyes!?!? Miracle! 

Also last week we ate reindeer so that was super exciting and actually delicious.

So there's a whole week. There's more little things but that just took all my time to write. So maybe I'll send like 2 more like this over the next year and a half. But definitely this isn't happening every week. Because we have to email our mission president too and that always takes a long time. 

I love you! I hope this was a good email finally! 

Kram,

Syster May