Tuesday we helped out a member stacking some firewood, for a bit which was fun. We also got our bikes back from the repair shop, what a relief!
Wednesday started off a little rough, it had been so warm in our apartment all night that it was hard to sleep. (Yay! No air conditioning) We pulled ourselves together though and got to work. We went and helped out at RIA again which was fun. We met Ulrika at the library but we got there early and ran into someone else that Elder Tolman had taught before so we talked with him for a bit which was fun. We had our coordination meeting with our branch mission leader and it was funny because his little 2 year old son somehow ended up wearing both Elder Tolman's watch and nametag, haha.
Thursday we had our last district meeting of the transfer which was great. We met one of our recent converts and talked about the Plan of Salvation, she's doing great! We went over and visited some other members for lunch and then we went and swung by another less active member. It was a pretty good day. One thing that kept coming up though was how with all of the heat and fires here in Sweden and across the rest of Europe that it is bringing more people together that otherwise share a number of disagreements but in a time of crisis people reach out in another's time of need which is great to see.
Friday we had an awesome lesson with someone we had never met before. We had called him earlier in the week and we gave him a tour of the church. We got to the primary room (primary is the church's program for children ages 11 and under, more or less) and it was awesome because they had posters for their themes for each month of the year with titles like "I am a child of God" or "My Heavenly Father loves me" It gave a great start for our lesson and we taught about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and he seemed to really get it. He has been really looking for something more in his life recently. It was awesome. It's experiences like this that keep missionaries going.
Saturday we had Innebandy and we also went to a family history activity that night.
Sunday we had a great day in church. Before we got there we were waiting at a bus stop and this guy sat down next to us so we started talking to him. He was heading in the same direction and actually got off one stop before us. We talked about his life and it came up that we were Americans and that we were missionaries and we explained a little about what we do. He himself believed there was something more, that this world functions too well to have been created by chance and I paraphrased on of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon and that led to a great discussion, we were able to teach and testify and even gave him a Book of Mormon and traded facebooks, it was super awesome! (see scripture down below)
At church Elder Tolman gave a talk along with a few others. I ended up translating for some Americans who were visiting while they were on a business trip. We had a great lesson in Sunday school and then the Sjökvists, for 3rd hour, which was essentially one of their devotionals on learning to listen to and recognize the Spirit that they gave at FSY(The church's equivalent of EFY here (EFY or Especially for Youth, and FSY are 6 day spiritual summer camps for youth ages 14 - 18.) They had been the couple in charge. It was really awesome. We then ate dinner with the Sjökvists and then headed home for some work we still had to do. We also got Transfer calls! I am having to say goodbye to Elder Tolman which is too bad... We were rocking it together here. But to keep me company I have Äldste Ball... and Äldste Young! We are going to be a tripan! (triple companionship -> tripanionship -> tripan) It should be great!
"40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.
41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?" - Alma 30:40-41
Everything that has been created is so wonderful and intricate and for me shows that there is a guiding hand in everything. I am so grateful for that and that his hand is everywhere and in our lives. It's all because of His great love for us. Have a wonderful week!
pictures:
This is us on our way to church, it finally rained!
Elevator Selfie on our way back from doing laundry.
--Elder Ashford
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