Starting from Scratch, Skype, Students, Swedish

Starting from Scratch, Skype, Students, Swedish?

 

Missionary work has its ups and downs, this week definitely had its fair share of both. Monday started the week off well with P-day adventures. We explored the Naval Base near our apartment, then treated ourselves to the Karlskrona's famous ice cream. I got lemon and pralines- heaven. It has proven dangerous that the ice cream shop is literally across the street from our apartment. No regrets... until the scale. haha.

 

We set a new "Vision" for Karlskrona this week. In the past months of being here in Karlskrona, we have talked and taught many people. But none of them have been "sticking". For one reason or another, they haven't been truly prepared. So we set new goals and got excited for this next transfer we have together. We will be baptizing someone before June 15th. We don't know who we will baptize or how we will find them, but we have faith that it will happen if it God's will. We are excited to find new people!

 

This week I was able to Skype my family for Mother's Day! The connection was less than perfect, but it was such a good feeling to see the people that I love the most. After talking with my family, I always feel a new desire to work hard and do better.

 

This Friday, the graduating students here in Sweden participated in a tradition of wearing their graduation hats and gathering together in the city and partying. There were hundreds and hundreds of students in the same hats blowing whistles and talking. There was definitely alcohol involved, which made everyone super loud and annoying. But on a high note, they were friendly and were open to talk about God. haha.

 

The language barrier is a HUGE thing as a missionary. And not even just with Swedish. In this city, I honestly think that I would use Arabic more than Swedish because there are so many immigrants from the Middle East. It is disappointing to truly want to talk to someone, but not being able to because they don't speak a single bit of Swedish or English, and I don't speak Bosnian or Arabic or Italian. Shame!

 

I love all of you so much! Thank you for being the best!!

 

 

Getting ready to Skype!

 

 

Pizza Party!

 

 

We live in such a beautiful area!

 

 

I love my AMERICAN SWEATER!

 

 

P-day Adventures!

 

 

Couples put locks on bridges and throw the keys in the ocean.

 

 

No amount of time devoted to the Lord will be regretted.

Funny story of this week:

 

The Elders helped us fix our bikes. One tire had been completely stolen a couple months ago, so we haven't been able to use them. Then this week, they were ready to ride. Yesterday, we had to get around town, so Syster Anderson had the brilliant idea of using the bikes. First, we had to get the bikes from our apartment on the third floor, down the stairs. There is no way to effectively describe me trying to transport the bike down those levels. But let's just say that there was screaming and lots of falling. If only we had an elevator.

 

Once we got onto the first floor and on the street, Sister Anderson was ready to go. She had already ridden a bike in her last area. She elegantly mounted the bike with her skirt, then began to ride. No problems.

 

I, on the other hand, struggled. Imagine me. Five feet, three inches. In a SKIRT. Trying to jump on a bike that is obviously meant for a giant elder. With prayers and faith, I got on and only fell once.

 

Shout out to Sister Anderson for being an awesome teacher!! :) 

 

 

Sister Andy and I with our newly-made friend. She is a foreign exchange student studying in the area. She is from Utah and we have mutual friends. It's a Small World!

 

I love Sweden!

 

We visited a ward member who lives on an island. We had to take a ferry to get to her house! There, we helped her rake up seaweed for her garden. 

 

 

I wish that all of you could be here in Karlskrona right now. It is heaven. I am serving in the prettiest place in the whole world. The sun is shining, the water is sparkling, the temperature is just that perfect temperature. Not too cold for a sweater, and not too hot to sweat. I can't complain!

 

Okay, funny story along with this picture. We were helping a member clean out her closet when I saw this AMERICAN sweater. I told her that I thought it was hilarious and she gave it to me! It is officially my favorite piece of my wardobe! hahaha. #Merica.

 

 

We have fun at bus stops.  

 

 

Us crossing on our GPS. haha

 

 

This week has been a humbling week! Another one of those...

 

We have one investigator. Ett. Uno.  

 

But guess what? He is doing GREAT. He has been reading and praying and has been progressing very well. He is genuine and is sensitive to the spirit. He says that after he meets with us, he is always happier and more optimistic about the future. He also says that he has felt a "good feeling" while reading about Joseph Smith.

 

This upcoming week, I am excited to FIND some people to teach! We have been working hard and sometimes, it is a little frustrating not seeing very much come from it. But I know that it will all be worth it. That no amount of time devoted to the Lord will be regretted.

Newspaper article in the works for Syster Hosenfeld and Syster Anderson - exciting!

Wow. This week had many highs and many lows!

 

We'll start with the low. Right now, we don't have many investigators to teach. It is a frustrating feeling to be working hard and talking to people everyday, and not see much success come from it. We feel very "underwhelmed" right now; the stress that comes from not having enough to do with all the time we have. We have been talking about how to use our time effectively so that we can have more success and teach more people. It is a good lesson to me to have patience. Things don't always go the way that we want them to go- it is a lesson that I know I need to learn.

 

 

 

Some of the branch!

 

 

Funny Story:

 

This week, I tried Surstromming. A swedish "delicacy". Esentially, it is rotten fish. YEP. Swedes BUY fish that has rotten. It has to be opened under water to keep the smell "under control". We ate it at a member's house and it stunk up the whole area. I am not being dramatic when I say that it smells and tastes like poop. It truly does! I tried a filet of it on potatoes, and I could NOT choke it down. But I tried, and that is something that I am proud that I can say. But holy cow!! It is HORRIBLE! The experiences one can have on a mission...

 

 

Conversation between Syster Anderson and I:

 

Me: We need to do something different. Something fun, but effective.

Her: I completely agree. But what...

Me: Hmm.

Her: Hmmmmmmm.

Me: HHHHMMMMM. Wait! I got it! Let's talk to the newspaper and see if they can do an article on us!

Her: Awesome. Woot woooottt!!

 

So, we went to the local newspaper and they agreed to write an article on us! They also took some pictures of us contacting people on the street. We feel really blessed that they were willing to write on us. We feel like it will help the people in this area less terrified to talk to us... haha. More news to come. :)

 

 

We went to a birthday party of our favorite gypsie this week! It is interesting to see the change of culture between entering into the house of a Swede and entering the house of a Slovakian. Completely different worlds!

 

And meeting a friend in a church's cafe. I think we need to be better at explaining to people that we are here to teach, not to just fika... even though fikaing is nice. :)

 

 

 

 

 

Karlskrona now has a car for missionaries! It is an incredible help because some members live more than an hour drive away. Syster Anderson and I took the car and drove to Kalmar, a city about 60 minutes away. We visited members and drove EVERYWHERE. And guess who drove? Yep- this girl. I would be lying if I told you it wasn't terrifying to drive in a foreign country... 

 

 

My Swedish is getting better every day. It is still very difficult for me, but I am slowly getting better, and that is all that matters. But seriously, Swedish. You are a crazy language!

 

My favorite part of the whole week was teaching a dear investigator. He is the man from Bosnia that I wrote about last week. We had a fantastic lesson with him yesterday when he told us that he felt a "happy feeling" in his heart when he read about the Restoration from a pamphlet. He is such a genuine person and we have such great hopes for him. He also says that he can stay in Sweden for at least two more months. :D

LAST week's pics - okay, I'm a slacker. She's been out 8 months already! Whaaaat...?

Best moment of the week:

We have an investigator who is from Bosnia. He is just visiting his mother who lives here for a few months. But while tracting, we knocked on the door of a lady who speaks ONLY Bosnian, so we brought him with us next time we talked to her. He translated the whole lesson! It was incredible to hear him speaking this crazy language with her. It was a tender mercy that we knew someone who could translate for us. Who would have thought that there would be so many language barriers on a mission? 

 

 

Crazy chicken hats in church!

 

My companion is majoring in photography... She is more creative than I am. haha.

 

Ice cream with some of the kids in our branch.

 

Helping a member move ALL books into her attic. Hundreds  upon hundreds of books! 

 

Pday fun. Trying on ridiculous shades in TGR.

 

The week began with Ping Pong on Monday. Some investigators came and some of the branch. I lost. Again. One of these days, I will be pro at pingis.

 

Tuesday was soccer day! Some of the branch came and so did a few investigators. So, I am not the most sporty girl in the whole world. Obviously. I played soccer for a few years in my childhood and hated it. But I ran around with everyone and had fun. The rain made everything more interesting... there were many falls and dirty bums.

 

The kids here are the cutest!

 

 

What I look like through a peep-hole. I wouldn't answer, either. ;)

 

Easter in Karlskrona... perfect!