. . and I really don't feel any different. Ha. Life's super good though, although this week was quite anti-climactic.
After puzzling ''until our puzzlers were sore'' as Elder Tolley says, yet not finishing the puzzle which was frustrating, we continued our work in the awkward days in between Christmas and New Years.
Right now we're spending our mornings making plans via google maps to find all of the less actives and investigators, and then our days and evenings, finding them. It's actually a rather calming way to do missionary work, as we slowly walk from house, to house, contacting people on the way and then seeing if that person is home or interested.
This Sunday after a LONG day in church translating for 3 hours, we continued our swing-by work. There's a member in the ward who has coined the phrase in his funny Swedish English, ''Put on the Faith!'' and you simply put on your faith and let miracles happen.
here's an investigator family I told you guys all about a while ago, a happy family from Bolivia (I think) that have lived here there whole lives but the father was really hard to get in contact with. His door is portcoded, and he never answers the phone due to work. Walking around this fateful evening, we were in the whereabouts of his house, and decided to put on our faith and decided we were getting in the building. After climbing up a muddy hill (saving a 5 minute walk, but not without falling a few times) we got to the door, had our faith on, right as someone walked in. While we approached his door on the seventh floor, it was already open and the mother and kids were outside the door. They all lit up as soon as they saw us, and we got in and taught the father (the mother speaks zero Swedish or English, but gives us food and presents all the time - she loves us) and he was very willing to read and pray. High hopes for that family, and a lesson that we just need to put on our faith a little bit more erry day.
We had quite the party in Upplands Väsby with the other two missionaries new years eve as we were all instructed to be in apartments by 4 PM (if not with a member, which we weren't) So we ate pizza, played cards and waited 'til the clock struck midnight and ran outside welcoming in the new year with the best firework display I'd seen since last new years. Sweden knows what they're doing when it comes to this stuff. Skål'd, cheered, had a dance party with us four in the apartment (pictures included) and it brought back good memories.
. . and on a positive note. I finished the puzzle which actually turned into a competition as 14 sisters were at the Tolleys the day before scrambling to finish it (or so we heard) - but I got the glory.
A fun week, and a miraculous week despite the slowness of the season.
All is well in Zion, Hurrah for Israel!
-Ä Sargent
After puzzling ''until our puzzlers were sore'' as Elder Tolley says, yet not finishing the puzzle which was frustrating, we continued our work in the awkward days in between Christmas and New Years.
Right now we're spending our mornings making plans via google maps to find all of the less actives and investigators, and then our days and evenings, finding them. It's actually a rather calming way to do missionary work, as we slowly walk from house, to house, contacting people on the way and then seeing if that person is home or interested.
This Sunday after a LONG day in church translating for 3 hours, we continued our swing-by work. There's a member in the ward who has coined the phrase in his funny Swedish English, ''Put on the Faith!'' and you simply put on your faith and let miracles happen.
here's an investigator family I told you guys all about a while ago, a happy family from Bolivia (I think) that have lived here there whole lives but the father was really hard to get in contact with. His door is portcoded, and he never answers the phone due to work. Walking around this fateful evening, we were in the whereabouts of his house, and decided to put on our faith and decided we were getting in the building. After climbing up a muddy hill (saving a 5 minute walk, but not without falling a few times) we got to the door, had our faith on, right as someone walked in. While we approached his door on the seventh floor, it was already open and the mother and kids were outside the door. They all lit up as soon as they saw us, and we got in and taught the father (the mother speaks zero Swedish or English, but gives us food and presents all the time - she loves us) and he was very willing to read and pray. High hopes for that family, and a lesson that we just need to put on our faith a little bit more erry day.
We had quite the party in Upplands Väsby with the other two missionaries new years eve as we were all instructed to be in apartments by 4 PM (if not with a member, which we weren't) So we ate pizza, played cards and waited 'til the clock struck midnight and ran outside welcoming in the new year with the best firework display I'd seen since last new years. Sweden knows what they're doing when it comes to this stuff. Skål'd, cheered, had a dance party with us four in the apartment (pictures included) and it brought back good memories.
. . and on a positive note. I finished the puzzle which actually turned into a competition as 14 sisters were at the Tolleys the day before scrambling to finish it (or so we heard) - but I got the glory.
A fun week, and a miraculous week despite the slowness of the season.
All is well in Zion, Hurrah for Israel!
-Ä Sargent