GOD JUL

Letter sent December 19, 2016:

You can't see, but the Christmas tree behind us is MASSIVE

Sorry for the lack of email last week. Some quick updates from last week. We went to Västra Frölunda for work overs and then zone conference. We had to fold a million napkins into christmas trees for the zone conference to please sister Watson, a senior missionary who always does all the cooking for our conferences over here on the west coast. I would do anything for Sister Watson. She is the most loving human I have ever met. Plus, let's be honest. I love doing mundane crafts/tasks like folding a hundred napkins into Christmas trees. We got transfer calls last Saturday and found out that all the elders were going to leave Malmö and 4 new elders were coming. And that I would be staying in Malmö!!! I am so happy. I love love love love Malmö. 

Folding napkin trees with Syster Wagner and Syster Heaps

This week has been solid. On Monday we went down pretty south to Trelleborg to get pizza. Missionary rumor is that the pizza (kebab) gets better the more southern you are in Sweden so we had to go eat at the most southern pizzeria. Afterwards as we started driving back the sunset was just absolutely beautiful so we pulled oft to take pictures. There was a pence by the parking lot but there was an opening and trail off to the side so we went in that way and stood on the ledge of land for a while taking pictures. Then we decided to go out on a little arm of land that stretched a little ways out into the ocean. We were all out on this little arm having a great time until someone decided to breath through their nose and we looked down and realized that this peninsula thing was made up of compost. We quickly realized that we were frolicking on a pile of poop and ran back asap. Turns out the fence wasn't trying to limit our fun, it was just trying to protect us. Anyways, I'm attaching a picture of the sunset because holy cow it was perfect and the moon was shining so brightly. It's on the other side of the panorama. Beautiful. That night we handed out a bunch of cupcakes that May-Elin (she's like a professional cake decorator) had baked on buses. Everyone was so happy and it really felt like Christmas. We were like, we don't even care that we aren't invited anywhere for Christmas, we just want to hand out cupcakes on buses all day. It was the best. 

Moon/sunset beauty

Classic

Making cupcake toppers at May-Elin's

On Tuesday we had another classic missionary day of all our lessons cancelling. So we went out contacting and holy cow I was just not feeling it at the beginning but by the end it was so much fun. I love that that always happens. I think that contacting for hours is going to be the worst and then it turns out to be the best because I get to tell so many people about God and Jesus Christ and when they actually stay and talk back it's so rewarding. 

On Wednesday we said goodbye to the fivepan. Elder Loerstcher left at 7am and then Elder Frankman left later and then elder cox. They had to use our bus cards and we had to get their phones and transfer reports so we ended up being at the station when the left and it was so sad. But we were so excited for all the new elders to come in and join us in the best city in the world. No disappointment. They got in that night and we had to hand over all the phones. I had felt so powerful all day with three phones. 

Saying goodbye to Elder Cox, the last member of the 5pan

The new Malmo crew

On Thursday we had dinner at the bishops house. I love their family. They have a son reminds me so much of Dalton. He's like 10 and the whole time they were like, "Sorry, we don't know when he's going to grow up." Haha, reminded me of home. On Friday we had district meeting. Then we taught a lady who used to be taught in Stockholm but had lost contact with the church. A lot of recent circumstances in her life have directed her to know that she needs to learn more about Jesus Christ now. She speaks Persian so next time we'll have a translator with us even though she speaks decent Swedish because she says she really wants to understand our message. Then we did family history with Lena. She's a master, I'm tellin ya. If every person was as good at family history as Lena then everyone would be found by now and the millenium wouldn't even be necessary. Then we taught our investigator named Jennifer. We read through the family: a proclamation to the family and talked about how we all are Gods children and have divine potential. The spirit was really there. It was so good. Then that night we were supposed to go Christmas caroling for a ward activity but like no one came so that was kind of a let down. Sweden really kills the joy of Christmas caroling because A) all buildings have portcodes so you can't just surprise people with singing. You have to like hope that they answer and let you into the building and then they just already know you're there. Also really puts a damper on swinging by and dropping of Christmas treats because, same problem. If you somehow do get into the building they don't have a walkway or porch to drop christmas treats off on if they aren't home. Basically, I'm just really excited to be able to do that next year. I love how everyone in the ward has "their treat" that they bring each year. I was thinking about the Carters homemade melt-away mints and moms white chocolate pretzel stuff. Yum. BUT, mine and sister McClatchie's "caroling" went well. We had a great night. 

The angels of the ward:  Karmen, Sara, Bianca, and Alva

Saturday we met with Khaldoon. He had read the whole restoration pamphlet before we even met and was just so sincere. Then at the end he prayed and said he was grateful that he had received so many answers to his questions. We're so excited to meet with him again. 

Sunday. The ward came in so clutch and people invited us over for Christmas. We're so excited to get to visit so many members this next week. We're going to spend Christmas Eve with May-Elin. She is our Norwegian mother. I love her and her whole family. It just feels like home there.

I'm so excited for CHRISTMAS. I'm so happy to be a missionary again this year. It really helps to remember why I really celebrate Christmas. It's so incredible to visit so many people. Some of which are well off and others which aren't and be able to see humble Christmas celebrations. I'm so grateful that Jesus Christ was born. That he lived and died for us. I know that He loves us and that he can help us with everything that we go through. He is our Savior and the light of the world.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Syster May