Spring has arrived in Sweden!

Hej!

 

First, I am happy to hear that everyone saw the video of me embarrassingly try to shred wood. I know that I look ridiculous and I sure am happy that it is on the internet... SIGRID. ;) Love you!

 

General Conference was this week. Is it really already April? The talks touched my heart, especially Elder Holland's talk about standing up for beliefs. Even as a missionary, it can be hard to stand up for what we believe in when we are made fun of. It was a perfect reminder to me that God is real, even if no one believes in Him.

 

The sun has been SHINING in Sweden! It is finally Spring! I have been taking advantage of this opportunity of Vitamin D and have been having Personal Study outside... in a way. We live on the top floor of an apartment building, so when it is eight o'clock, I gather my scriptures and study materials and read sitting on the window sill with my legs hanging out. I love reading in the sun and occasionally looking at the city below. And don't worry, Mom! It is completely safe. ;)

 

We met a man named Gabriel this week. I have forgotten where he is from- possibly India? We taught him about the nature of God this week, and said a prayer at the end of the lesson. I prayed that Gabriel would be able to be safe and that he and his family would have happiness in their life. After the prayer, he told Syster Anderson and I that he appreciated the prayer and that it made him feel good. I always forget about what a huge blessing it is to pray until I talk to people who don't believe that God hears our prayers or even exists.

 

A little update about Morgan: We have been staying in touch since I left Halmstad a month ago. He emailed me last week that he has received the Aaronic Priesthood and has been blessing the sacrament! I am so excited for him. It has been a huge blessing to me to see him progress and change. Halmstad will always have a special place in my heart because of the loving members who became my family, the personal growth as a missionary, and my ability to meet Morgan and see him accept the gospel.

 

Life is amazing and the gospel makes it even better!

 

 

Okay, a funny story!

 

We were contacting people in Hoglands Park when we saw a man taking pictures of the beautiful flowers. We walked up to him and Syster Andersson jokingly said, "We are ready!" and hit a pose. He started taking pictures of us and it was hilarious! We gave him our email and he sent these pictures to us. There are so many random and funny experiences that happen as a missionary. Haha.

 

Blessings through Boldness.

Week in a summary: Blessings through Boldness.

 

Last Monday, our zone leaders called the missionaries in the area and gave us an invitation to push ourselves and try our hardest on unplanned contacting. Unplanned contacting is the type of missionary work we do when we talk to people on the way to appointments, while on the bus, while traveling on trains. We accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. This week, as Syster Andersson would put it, "We went HAM". We pushed ourselves to talk to people walking, waiting at bus stops, sitting in the library. We worked so hard and we saw many blessings. We were able to have 153 unplanned contacting, which is a big difference than the 70 that we are asked to talk to every week. We were able to get many numbers of people who are interested and have taught many lessons this week. It was AWESOME!

 

This week, we visited a member named Jenny. She is a Swede who lives on an island that we had to take a ferry to. She is the nicest woman and served a mission in Minnesota soon after she was converted. She shared with us a poem that she read frequently on her mission:

The Highs and Lows of a Mission

A mission is a strange experience
It is a trial and a test.
A mission throws at you the worst
Yet, teaches you the best.
I've never been so happy,
I've never been so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken,
I've never felt so blessed.
I've never been so confused,
Things have never been so clear.
I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant,
He's never been so near.
I've never been so discouraged,
I've never been so full of hope.
I feel I could go on for forever,
I think I've come to the end of my rope.
I've never had it quite so easy,
I've never had it quite so tough.
Things have never been so smooth,
Things have never been so rough.
I've never traveled through more valleys,
I've never ascended more peaks.
I've never met so many nice people.
I've never met so many freaks!
I've never had so many ups,
I've never had so many downs.
I've never worn so many smiles,
I've never had so many frowns.
I've never been so lonely,
I've never had so many friends.
BOY, I hope this is over soon,
GOSH, I hope this never ends.

 

 

Cute Sigrid and the systers

  

 

Many islands.

 

Adam and Jimmy, two of our friends here in Karlskrona. They are doing SUPER well! Silly faces. :)

 

 

One round of Ninja.

 

Syster Andersson and I.

 

Trainrides

 

John, a friend we met on the train. We ended up teaching him a lesson and talking to him about beliefs. I love meeting friendly Swedes!

 

We are missionaries. :)

 

Being a missionary is tiring...

As it was read, I thought about being a missionary. The hard times that I have. The good times that I have. This poem sums up what a mission is really like to a T. How grateful I am to be a missionary!

I love you so much! Being away from all of you is hard, but being a missionary is completely worth it. :)
Love,
Syster "Cory" Hosenfeld

Yes, my district calls me Cory. Dorks.

 

 

Gratitude for religious freedom

I have been amazed with all of the people I have met from all around the world while serving my mission here in Sweden. We have taught lessons to friends from China, Lebanon, Moracco, Syria, Chile, Iran, and Iraq. And that is just this week. When I imagined myself teaching people here in this country, I pictured the stereotypical Swedes: blond hair, blue eyes, light skin. I have loved teaching people of all cultures and beliefs and nationalities.

 

Something that has struck me very strongly these past few days is freedom. There is an investigator who we have been teaching who has helped me realize what blessings I have in my life that I have taken for granted. This woman escaped from her native country to Sweden. She was Muslim, but while we have been teaching her, she has gained a testimony of Christ. She has been very careful about us teaching her because if she has to go back to her native country, she will be killed for being a Christian.

 

I am grateful that I am able to worship in a country as I please; whether that is Sweden or the United States. I am grateful that I can believe in Christ without worrying about what will happen to me. Whenever I think of the sacrifices that others make for their beliefs, I no longer feel badly about being teased here for believing in Christ.

 

I love all of you! Please be safe!

Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect. (Phew.)

This week has been a week of growth.

 

We have travelled all over Sweden this week, first to Västerås for Elder Bailey's funeral, and then to Göteborg for a Zone Conference. The dozens of hours that I had on a train gave me time to think. Time to ponder my growth as a person while being here as a missionary.

 

Recently, I have been really hard on myself. I have compared myself to others and haven't felt very confident. I have been feeling lately that I am a bad missionary; that I'm not accomplishing as much as I should, that I am not a successful missionary, that I am horrible at Swedish. And all of those thoughts have really hurt me.

 

Yesterday, I had a great talk with my companion, Syster Anderson. I told her about my struggles that I have been having, and she gave me advice that really hit home: Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect. He just expects us to be our best.

 

Although I have heard that dozens of times and have even told it to people dozens of times, it struck a string in myself. It meant something new to me. I don't have to be perfect. I don't have to feel badly about myself if I am not doing EVERYTHING full-out 24/7. He knows me and He knows that I am working hard.

 

I am grateful for the Atonement. I am grateful that Christ died for me so that I don't have to feel these feelings of disappointment anymore. That I can work hard, have faith, and that He will make up for the rest.

 

I love you, Family and Friends. You are the best people in the whole world. Thank you for everything.

 

Genesis and Elder Smith and his birthday party. Happy 19th! (pic above)

 

Karlskrona missionaries! :) Haha, Syster Anderson is hilarious. (pic below)

 

My family from Halmstad! I miss you, Lindahl Family.

 

 

 In Halmstad, Chris and I.

 

 

David, another friend from Halmstad.

 

 

Elin, my best friend from Halmstad. Miss her!

 

 

Museum in Karlskrona

 

 

Museum in Karlskrona

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.