We got a LOT of snow this week!
Selfies on the spark! haha.
We were able to go over to the Wesemeyers again this week and we used the Spark! I love that little thing. Nina LOVES nature so we sparked to the edge of the lake and watched the sun set. It was beautiful and it was also fun to stand on the frozen lake.
Hi, my dear family and friends!
Syster Hosenfeld here, sitting at a church computer all the way in Södertälje, Sweden. I have come to the scary conclusion that I am going home next week, whether I like it or not. And with this being my second-to-last email before I am back at home again, I want to first thank all of you for all of your support. I have felt such love from all of you back in the States. Thank you for the letters and emails and prayers. They mean the world to me and they really have helped me while being here. It is so much easier to be happy when you know that you always have someone who has your back. Thank you for being there. :) I love you all!
I'll just start out with my favorite highlights of the week:
Tender Mercies.
I feel that my theme of this week is that God really knows us. This week, we taught quite a few lessons about the nature of God. We heard many different beliefs about God: that He is an energy, that He isn't involved in our lives, that He is just the compilation of all of the Love of the world, etc. But I find comfort in my belief that God is a Perfect Person who loves us and cares about us. He is our Heavenly Father and He is involved in our lives. That being said, I have seen little blessings this week that have come from Him. Here are a few small but significant examples that I have noticed during this week:
- This week, Syster Hoke and I received a referral from a member. She gave us an address. We decided to go last night when we went to the address and realized that it was a portcoded building. THEY ARE THE WORST. There is no way to get in them unless you have a code or someone lets you in. We stood there for a few seconds when a man just happened to come down the elevator and let us in. It was such a "coincidence"! We were able to leave cookies and a card to the referral, who wasn't home at the time. We hope that he will call back soon!
-Yesterday in church, the Stake Presidency came and spoke. I feel that every lesson they gave was made specifically for me. One of the counselors spoke of having Fear before Faith. Another spoke of my favorite General Conference talk by Elder Uchdorf, "Lord, is it I?". But I especially adored the talk of the Stake President who spoke of the small but significant nature of change. He gave the example of a missionary who daily learns to depend more upon the Lord. He then said of the EFFORT that is required to change. When he spoke, it really affected me. I feel that a fear I have at this point about going home is that I will "lose" my growth once I step foot on Utah soil again. But this Stake President reminded me that we can always change and become better if we are willing to put the effort. It was an answered prayer that gave me a lot of comfort. :)
-I have enough Shampoo to last me until I go home! God is too good to me! :D
Warm Fuzzies
Yesterday we were waiting to take the bus home when an older lady with a walker sat down on the bench with us. I complimented her mittens, (which she made herself) and talked about how her day went. She noticed our American accents and asked us what we were doing here in Sweden. We told her that we volunteered for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (which is a mouthful in Swedish). She replied back, "Oh! I knew that it must have been for a church. All of you stand out compared to everyone else. There is something different about you young people." She told us of little experiences she has had with Mormon Missionaries in the past and said how impressed she was with how kind they were to her. It made me so happy inside to be reminded that we are different than everyone else. We are! Imagine it. We are here in a foreign land learning another language working as missionaries 24/7. People think it is crazy that we don't have days off and that we don't get paid. I am grateful to be a missionary and share what I believe with others.
Random Thoughts of the Week:
This week I feel like I have been given so many opportunities to reflect. Reflect on my memories here, the people I have met, the lessons I have learned, the trials I have grown from. I just feel such gratitude that I am here. This has been a life-changing experience for me and I know that it is a privilege that I am here.
Thank you for everything you do. I will see all of you soon! :)
Love,
Syster Hosenfeld
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