Elder Bailey's memorial

On Sunday, I went to Elder Bailey's Memorial Service in Västerås. The whole train ride there, I felt sick to my stomach. It was a horrible feeling of anticipation. But once I entered the chapel in Västerås, I felt complete peace. I felt comfort that washed away my anxiety.

 

The Memorial Service was beautiful. It was full of musical numbers and talks dedicated to Elder Bailey's life. All of the missionaries present sung "Blott en Dag", a Swedish Hymn. When we sung it together, the spirit filled the entire room. I couldn't help but cry while singing that song about the "one by one fleeting moments" of life.

 

Elder Bailey's memorial service was an experience that has influenced me. I have been thinking about it constantly since Sunday night. Elder Bailey's passing has reminded me of the impact we all have on the world. As speakers spoke of his love and his example, I couldn't help but reflect on what people will say about me when I pass away. Will they speak of worldly things like my income or popularity? Or will they speak of things of value- my character, my service?

 

By taking a step back, I have realized that I have been giving things too much thought that truly do not matter in the long run. In the end of life, the things that matter are things of the gospel.

 

I am grateful for Elder Bailey. His example and his passing will forever influence my life. I love the missionary that he is and I am appreciative of his sacrifices as a missionary. He was amazing.

 

I know that God lives. He loves us and He has a plan for us. Life isn't easy. We experience pains, sufferings, death, dissapointments. But I have a strong testimony that everything will be worth it, that at the end of our lives when we reflect on our actions, we will NEVER regret doing what is right.

 

I encourage all of you to remember what is most important. You are all so important to me and I love you with my whole heart.

 

With my whole heart.

Syster Hosenfeld 

 

 

How grateful I am to have the gospel in my life!

 

A picture "At the train station‏" - she may have a P-day later this week and, hopefully, we'll hear a bit more.

 

Oh, don't they look great?!

No update this week but, thanks to the wonderful people in Sweden (Senja and Sigrid), I have pics!!!

From Senja: At our place, fixing dinner one Sunday afternoon. 

 

This is a pic of Syster Hill, the companion Kenzie was only with for 3 weeks, before they transferred Kenz to Karlskrona.

 

From Senja, the Bishop's wife in Halmstad: I miss Syster "Hosi" already!

 

From Senja: Going to the Temple with the Systers. Just the 3 of us in our car attending a session with the ward RS. It was such a special trip with them. I get all teary eyed as I miss these two.

 

From Senja: This was some weeks ago at a fireside at our place. She always suggested a game when she was here. I miss her!

 

From Sigrid, a ward member in her new Karlskrona branch: Here is your lovely daughter. We made sure to feed them some really good pizza. 

Syster Hosenfeld will be transferring to Karlskrona this Wednesday - her first transfer!!!

Leaving Halmstad

This Saturday, Sister Hill and I were on our way to an appointment when there was a call from President Newell which means one thing: TRANSFERS. I answered, and he told me that I would be transferring to a city called Karlskrona. It is a very bit-sweet feeling in my heart to know that I will be leaving Halmstad. I love this city; it has been my home for almost five months. Saying goodbyes to the members have been really difficult because I have built such close friendships here. I was feeling very sad yesterday in church thinking back on all the memories I have here and everything I have to leave. But then I remembered a quote I loved before I left on my mission: "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." I am grateful that I have people I love here. People who mean so much to me. I know that I will love people in Karlskrona just like I have loved the people here. But there will always be a special place in my heart for Halmstad. It is impossible for me to forget the city and the people who have grown to mean the world to me. 

I love you, all! 

Hej då, Halmstad. Hallå, Karlskrona!

 

 

 

 Ingvor

 This is Maria, who I talk about so much.

 

Six month mark! Woohoo! 

 

 

Hehe. Fails!

 

 

Syster Hosenfeld hits her 6 month mark this week (but who's keeping track?)!!!

This week I will be celebrating my six month mark as a missionary. Wait, what? Yep! I have been Syster Hosenfeld for a grand total of 182 days. What a strange feeling it has been for me to think about the last six months of my life. Where did that time go?  I have been pondering about my experiences that I have had and I have come up with a list of my favorite happenings in my time as a missionary.

 

-Seeing Morgan get baptized.

-Being set apart as a missionary.

-Singing in the Relief Society General Conference.

-Celebrating Jul with the Lindahl and Källberg Family.

-Learning Swedish.

-Going to the Denmark Temple.

-Talking to my Mom and close friend, McKell Stauffer, at the Conference Center.

-Skyping my family.

-Spending time with the Young Women in the ward.

-Silly blond moments (saying the wrong words, messing up as a chorister at church, funny nicknames)

-Learning about genealogy.

-Becoming more confident.

-Loving the gospel more than before.

 

I feel so grateful that I can be a missionary. I am very blessed that the Lord has given me this opportunity. I have grown and developed into a better version of myself, and I know that these experiences I have in Sweden as a missionary will influence me for the rest of my life.

 

I love you, family and friends! Thank you for the support.

 

Six months down, twelve more to go!

 

Beautiful Halmstad in the Winter. Love it!

Saying goodbye to my trainer, Syster Christensen. Katrineholm, you better love her for the amazing missionary she is! :)

 

Alice and I. She is the cutest. 

 

David  with his favorite military hat. haha. He is a character. :)

 

Tylösand

 

Double rainbow. Perfect end to a rainy day!

 

New District at Maria's apartment.

Valentine wishes from Halmstad!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

This week I have been thinking a lot about love. No, don't worry, I'm not falling in love with any investigators or planning my wedding. But I have been thinking about love constantly. This week the world celebrates Valentine's Day. The day of love. I will be celebrating Valetine's Day, but in a different way. Instead of giving chocolates, I will be giving Mormon.org cards. Instead of giving flowers or gifts, I will be giving away Books of Mormon. While people tend to call their loved ones on V-day, I will be calling investigators, trying to set up appointments. Although it doesn't necessary sound like the ideal February 14th, I cannot wait. I am grateful that I can show my love for the people of Sweden. That I can share with them something that I love dearly: The Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

Missionary work runs on love. Everything we do as missionaries is because we have love in our hearts. I talk to peoplle about the gospel because I truly love them and desire that they can hear about the church. I teach people about Christ because His love and His Atonement makes it possible for me to be better. I try to be my best and work my hardest because I love my Heavenly Father and desire to serve Him to the best of my ability.

 

I love so many things about being a missionary. I love my calling, I love my companions, I love my tag. I love Halmstad, my ward, the missionaries in my district. I love the Book of Mormon, I love Swedish, I love growth. I love being a missionary with my whole heart. Serving a mission is how I show my love to my Savior for everything I have been given.

 

And lastly, I love you! I hope that you all have a perfect Valentine's Day spent with the people you love spent doing the things that you love.

 

With LOVE,

Syster Hosenfeld

Syster Hosenfeld is staying in Halmstad!

Still Here in Halmstad!

This week, I was expecting to receive a transfer call because I have been in this area for the entirety of my time in Sweden, four months. But I will be staying here in Halmstad for another transfer. I am extremely grateful to be staying here; this is my home. I am lucky continue my mission with this ward that I love so dearly. I am also excited to continue to be in the same area as Morgan. Every lesson we have with him gets better and better- his testimony is continuously growing. I am happy that I will be able to see his growth as a member of the church. He is incredible. 

A cool experience that we had this week was teaching a woman named Maria. She is from Transylvania and believes in God. The lessons with her are always great; she invites us to her come, serves us fika, brings out her Bible, discusses what she learned in the Book of Mormon. This lesson was a special one as we taught the Plan of Salvation. We testified of our purpose here on Earth, why we exist, what we are meant to accomplish. We asked her to say the prayer, and she accepted the invitation and said one silently. We all bowed our heads as she offered her prayer. The Spirit was strong and after a few minutes, she lifted her head and said, "I feel God's power with me". We invited her to be baptized, and she told us that she will pray to know if it is something that she feels is right to do. The lesson was such a cool experience for me because I learned of how important the Holy Ghost is. Missionaries don't convert people to the gospel. We can't. We can tell our investigators everything that we know about the church, but nothing would come of it. But with the Spirit, it can touch the hearts of those we teach. It tells them that it is right. I am grateful for the Spirit! I have learned how important it is while being a missionary.