Oh, How Swede It Is!: Tripan

Letter sent October 3, 2016:

Tripan - my braid is not up to par

Wow so this week was weird because we stayed in Malmö all week long. Haven't done that in...ever. Breaking the trend again today with a train ride up to Stockholm for MLC. I'm so excited to be in T-central again and be on a tunnelbana and just everything about Stockholm. Also I just love train rides. Even when they're 5 hours long.

Also I bartered with a street flower shop man and got a tiny plant for 18 kronor instead of 20. I know, I'm good. 2 krowns off. impressive. I'll tell you my secret. I said..."I only have 18 (make sad face)" He didn't even hesitate.

My bartered plant

Also this week we talked to a lady on the street who was obsessed with the virgin Mary. She told us there was a tree in this park by her house that was Mary and that we had to go look at it. That she loves to stare at it and how Mary has baby Jesus in her arms and her dresses are flowing beautifully down around her. So we walked over there and were trying to follow her instructions and we found it! Haha it was not what we were anticipating. But I'll attach a picture.

The mother Mary

Otherwise, the week's been good. We talked to many peoples. We also met with an inactive lady named Ulla who was just the absolute cutest! We were in a tripan on Wednesday because Sister Campbell came down from Helsingborg while she was waiting for her new companions to come in (Sister Davis is coming down to be one of her companions and I am SO excited). So this lady loves to sew. Like, lifeblood is sewing. And so we're about to leave and she was like, "Wait up sister Campbell I've gotta give you some darling little hotpads that I sewed. But don't even get jealous Sister May and Sister Jackson because you can get some later." I've never been so excited to get a pair of hotpads. We also met with Venessa on our tripan day and holy cow I am obsessed with her. She was baptized last November so she's almost been a member for a year. She is HILARIOUS. I just love our lessons with her. She cracks me up and the gospel is just so real to her. It's not like her religion and life are separate. She lives the gospel and she loves it. We also met with Elisabeth another less active. We're helping her to do personal progress so this week she taught us about faith. Her faith is incredible she just physically can't make it to church. She amazes me every time we are there. I love her. Also she always makes us drink tea with her and she always gives me mint kinds and it reminds me of grandma every time.

We met also with a turkish man who grew up in denmark and his friends from turkey. He speaks turkish so he translated the lesson through to them. We had met with him one time before a couple weeks ago and at the beginning of the lesson he was like yeah I've read half of the Book of Mormon. We were like, jaws hanging open, Half?? And he was like yeah. I was like okay so like the baptismal font's right there I assume you love this right and know it's true and okay never had an investigator do something like this before I thought it was only the movies. Turns out his reaction wasn't like the movies so we've still gotta teach him and help him. But wow, normally beginning to read in the Book of Mormon is such a hindrance to people here. They just won't open the book. So this is progress. Also his turkish friends are super down to read also and downloaded the app and everything. Downside, he works in Denmark and can't meet again for 2 weeks.

But okay, real week's highlight, GENERAL CONFERENCE. I love general conference. All of us missionaries were just losing our minds during Elder Anderson's and Elder Oak's talks about missionary work. It's easy right now to turn and point my finger and say, I'm doing everything I should be as a missionary and the members just aren't pulling their own weight here. But in reality pre-mission I did no missionary work either. It's made me think a lot about what I'm going to do when I get home. During our lesson with above mentioned turkish people they were just blown away with the fact that we're here volunteering for a year and half just to spread the word. One of them turned to me and was like, "How are you going to keep doing this when you go back to America?" It was this strangely spiritual, deep, pause in time moment while Sister Jackson was with the other two helping them to download the lds app. I just felt the importance of all this for a split second. Sometimes I can't grasp the weight of the gospel and the gathering of Israel and sharing the gospel. But this is everything. This is what matters. And every single member has the responsibility to share the gospel. I loved Elder Oaks talk. At the beginning he eliminated any excuse that we come up with as members. That we have some special circumstance that prevents us from sharing the gospel or our friends aren't religious or whatever it may be. He said that every single member must pray for the opportunity to share the gospel. There are no exceptions. And during the Saturday morning session when they were showing that picture of the puzzle getting completed... It was pretty completed already. We're in the last days and we need to spread the gospel. Not just to our friends or coworkers or acquaintances; to everyone. So do what the apostle said to do and pray about how you can share the gospel, pray for missionary opportunities. I know God answers our prayers. He will bless the people who pray with opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Also loved the emphasis on the plan of salvation. It's so wonderful and perfect and brings joy to the people who believe. We can all choose to be happy and lasting joy comes as we live the principles of the gospel. By following the counsel of the prophets and apostles. That means that even more joy will come as we share the gospel with others.

I know this church is the church of Jesus Christ. He is at it's head and leads and guides our church leaders here on the Earth. I love being a missionary. It's the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

Also took millions of pictures by my very favorite street in all of the world. The pictures just don't do it justice. It's BEAUTIFUL.

Have it good.

Syster May