Only a few inches, but -10 degree weather to accompany it and it feels like I'm actually in Sweden. My companion and I figured out that a day this week was the coldest day of his life, as he comes from Long Beach CA. Ha ha. Pretty funny.
This week was super good though. Our first full week for a while, and we went pretty hard. In the beginning of the week we were meeting the regulars, an old lady who had a stroke for a while ago and can't really speak right. But was so happy when we showed up and gave her a mormons book, (she's a member) and each time we come prepared with questions, and things to say to her and each time she says an extra word or two. We can't really communicate with words, but the look in her eyes is of happiness and it always reminds me that I'm not here just to call repentance on the world, and be super busy, but to lift up the weak as well.
That night we were doing swing bys, and got into this old investigator hungarian lady's house, who was with her Swedish boyfriend and another girl. . they were all in their 40's and told us about their crazy lives and questioned us hard about what they need to do to get God's approval. We had a long discussion (as they were pretty sincere) and we'll go back today. . and see if they're willing to legitimately investigate, as they said they were last time. It's interesting, I remember me being the greenie in these kind of situations, but now I'm the trainer and have to guide the discussion and essentially preach to these people. I think it's super fun though, I really enjoy it and you learn so much about the world through these kind of experiences.
A similar experience happened later during the week when we met with an inactive member who never essentially had a testimony, as we taught him though I felt so many ''inspired questions'' as preach my gospel calls it just coming out, and then he would elaborate on an important concern he has with the Gospel, or something that made it so he became inactive.
The coolest thing about this guy though, was that I understood him perfectly. I don't mean the language, as I understand that regularly, but I understood where he was coming from, and it was clear to me in the moment how I needed to present the simple message of reading and praying about the book of mormon. He's willing to meet again, and said he will think about praying. His mind, like many other Swedes, and partly mine, is very logical and factual based and cannot except anything that does not have a ''natural explanation,'' but I understand why they think that. The culture they live in, that's all everything's about. I truly feel he was one of the people I was sent to Sweden for, and I desperately hope he'll give it a chance, just open his heart as I did once upon a time, and see if the Gospel is true without reservation. Try it out.
. . and that's where most of our work has been focused on. Less Actives and helping them out. There's a less active (Alberto) we've been going over to for a while. . His mother (claudia) was recently activated and has been SO strong. . his brother is investigating and Alberto has been waiting to come back, as he's always had the faith. Yesterday marked the 4th time he's been at church since the week before Christmas, and he out of nowhere, and months of us just going there giving spiritual lessons and discussions - came back to activity.
What's even cooler was that it just so happened the investigator lessons the Tolleys always give in church have been about the Priesthood, and he's been attending, learned all about it, interviewed with the bishop, and was ordained a Priest yesterday. He was radiating, and as he stepped out of the circle to hug his mother who was bawling, Elder Tolley looks at all of us, ''This is what it's all about.'' It was so cool, so inspiring, to be part of it. I didn't really do anything, besides go there every week and give them a message. That's all we can do, is invite. But when the spirit works miracles, and people make decisions, and God pulls them up. It is so cool to be a part of this process. He'll be passing the sacrament (along with the chinese guy - Erving) that was baptized a few weeks ago.
The gospel is the dang thing. I absolutely love moments like that, and wouldn't give up being in that room for anything.
Too much to relay in an email, but we had a lot of good things happen this week. The work goes forward, we fight the cold and try to locate the lost sheep.
Oo-rah.
-Ä Sargent
This week was super good though. Our first full week for a while, and we went pretty hard. In the beginning of the week we were meeting the regulars, an old lady who had a stroke for a while ago and can't really speak right. But was so happy when we showed up and gave her a mormons book, (she's a member) and each time we come prepared with questions, and things to say to her and each time she says an extra word or two. We can't really communicate with words, but the look in her eyes is of happiness and it always reminds me that I'm not here just to call repentance on the world, and be super busy, but to lift up the weak as well.
That night we were doing swing bys, and got into this old investigator hungarian lady's house, who was with her Swedish boyfriend and another girl. . they were all in their 40's and told us about their crazy lives and questioned us hard about what they need to do to get God's approval. We had a long discussion (as they were pretty sincere) and we'll go back today. . and see if they're willing to legitimately investigate, as they said they were last time. It's interesting, I remember me being the greenie in these kind of situations, but now I'm the trainer and have to guide the discussion and essentially preach to these people. I think it's super fun though, I really enjoy it and you learn so much about the world through these kind of experiences.
A similar experience happened later during the week when we met with an inactive member who never essentially had a testimony, as we taught him though I felt so many ''inspired questions'' as preach my gospel calls it just coming out, and then he would elaborate on an important concern he has with the Gospel, or something that made it so he became inactive.
The coolest thing about this guy though, was that I understood him perfectly. I don't mean the language, as I understand that regularly, but I understood where he was coming from, and it was clear to me in the moment how I needed to present the simple message of reading and praying about the book of mormon. He's willing to meet again, and said he will think about praying. His mind, like many other Swedes, and partly mine, is very logical and factual based and cannot except anything that does not have a ''natural explanation,'' but I understand why they think that. The culture they live in, that's all everything's about. I truly feel he was one of the people I was sent to Sweden for, and I desperately hope he'll give it a chance, just open his heart as I did once upon a time, and see if the Gospel is true without reservation. Try it out.
. . and that's where most of our work has been focused on. Less Actives and helping them out. There's a less active (Alberto) we've been going over to for a while. . His mother (claudia) was recently activated and has been SO strong. . his brother is investigating and Alberto has been waiting to come back, as he's always had the faith. Yesterday marked the 4th time he's been at church since the week before Christmas, and he out of nowhere, and months of us just going there giving spiritual lessons and discussions - came back to activity.
What's even cooler was that it just so happened the investigator lessons the Tolleys always give in church have been about the Priesthood, and he's been attending, learned all about it, interviewed with the bishop, and was ordained a Priest yesterday. He was radiating, and as he stepped out of the circle to hug his mother who was bawling, Elder Tolley looks at all of us, ''This is what it's all about.'' It was so cool, so inspiring, to be part of it. I didn't really do anything, besides go there every week and give them a message. That's all we can do, is invite. But when the spirit works miracles, and people make decisions, and God pulls them up. It is so cool to be a part of this process. He'll be passing the sacrament (along with the chinese guy - Erving) that was baptized a few weeks ago.
The gospel is the dang thing. I absolutely love moments like that, and wouldn't give up being in that room for anything.
Too much to relay in an email, but we had a lot of good things happen this week. The work goes forward, we fight the cold and try to locate the lost sheep.
Oo-rah.
-Ä Sargent