The last pictures of Kenz and Syster Sandberg, before Syster Sandberg transferred from Sodertalje. Sorry that they're sort of grainy.

  

This week, Kenzie shares how she and her companion, Syster Hoke, got dropped off in the middle of the forest in the dark! I got chills just reading about this experience...

 

Something that I LOVE about Sweden is that it is a melting pot of so many cultures. Especially here in Södertälje. Within the past two weeks, I have had Spanish piejija (Definitely didn't spell that right), Arabic pastries, and Korean poppy-seed apple juice! I love experiencing the many different cultures here.

 

Stockholm! And cute little gnomes!

 

A few weeks ago, I got this letter. At first glance, I thought that it was informing me that I would be deported. (Gulp) But after some reading and the help of Google Translate (A God-Send), I learned that I was only being told that I had to renew my Visa. HURRAY!

Syster Hoke and I had to travel all the way to Solna (about an hour by tåg), wait in line for 30 minutes, then simply get a picture and fingerprints taken. It was the weirdest feeling to be there because more than a year ago, I went to the same place to get my pictures and fingerprints taken my first day in Sweden. It was a very strange flashback moment for me... 

 

Whenever I feel bad about my Swedish, I look back about my MTC notebook and read:

"Vad heter du omvändelse?"

Translated: What is your name, repentance?

...Let's just say that I have gotten better at Swedish. hahahaha

 

Picking her up at the Täby Chapel... and pointing to Södertälje! Off we go. 

 

Introducing... Syster Hoke!

My two "mission babies". :) Love them! 

 

So, this week I realized I hit rock bottom when I left the house with tights AND socks wearing FLATS. And I didn't even care. I'm so embarassing. haha. 

 

A sweet member brought this soda from Turkey when he visited his family there. Ah, people. You are too nice!

 

This week, we have seen countless blessings. 

One of them comes from me being a complete blonde. It was around 8:30 when we decided that we should start heading back home. We got on the bus for the thirty minute drive back home. While on the way, we kept careful track of what stop we were at, making sure we didn't miss our "Köpmansgatan" plats. We were talking, giggling, and planning for the next day. Then I came to realization that it had been around thirty minutes, but we hadn't seen our stop. 

I look at the GPS and my stomach sank when I saw where we were: In the middle of the forest.

I quickly typed in our home address into the GPS, when it told us to get off at the next stop. I then felt calm, knowing that we would still get home, just a little late.

We got off the bus at that stop, but then came to the freaky realization that we literally were in a bus stop in the middle of the forest. No lights other than our phone. And at 9 here in Sweden, it is as dark as midnight. 

Syster Hoke FREAKED. And I don't blame her. We were in the middle of the forest, with a phone with 7% battery. We were doomed. 

The GPS said that there would be a bus that came in twenty minutes, but busses aren't always reliable here. So we said a prayer that everything would be alright. We used the flashlight setting on the phone, and waited and waited and waited and waited. And... the bus came! 

I don't think the bus driver understood how grateful we were that he came! (He was probably more confused to why two girls were in the middle of the pitch-black forest)

Long story short, we learned our lesson: Always pay attention to make sure the bus is going the right why, bring a flashlight, and always have a charged phone!

 

This week, we had Language Study in a Swedish Cathedral. We studied some magazines together until a woman working there invited us to join with them in singing some hymns. We agreed! (We both love singing).

I was thinking that we would be signing some traditional hymns until they brought out a guitar, cello, and tambourine. (Funny combination). We started singing some hipster twists to Swedish Hymns. I was LOVING it! ...until they started bearing their testimonies. They were all talking at the same time, thanking God for the King and Queen, screaming Hallelujahs. I felt like a fish out of water. We politely told them that we had to leave. It was a very fun, unforgettable experience. 

 

 

 

Sweden. You are too beautiful for your own good. 

Kenzie meets her trainee, Syster Hoke! No pictures though, yet.

This week... so many happenings. These are the highlights!

-Training Round Two began! I travelled to the Täby chapel to the Trainers' Meeting. First, it was a very weird experience to be in that chapel again. First, because I had served an amazing six weeks there, and second, because about a year ago, I was a Greenie sitting in that chapel, waiting to be assigned to my trainer. The Circle of Life has begun... haha. Syster Hoke will be my Greenie for the next three months. I am so happy to have her.

A little summary on my "baby":

Name? Rebekah Hoke.

Age? 19.

Hometown? Lubbock, Texas.

Hobbies? Singing, making jokes, laughing.

Long story short... I love her. She is super spunky and hilarious and I am excited! Also... she has already SUNG CAMP SONGS WITH ME. #soulmate?

This week, we found a new investigator! He is from Africa, and we showed him The Restoration film, he loved it. He said that he could definitely see himself believing in the Book of Mormon. We texted him later in the week, asking him how reading was going. Reply? "Incredible." We are super pumped!

This week I have felt such LOVE! The members here are just amazing. I cannot describe it. I feel so appreciated and accepted, and it feels so good. I have realized how much I adore being loved. And I know that it must sound cocky or weird, but it is true! There is no better feeling in the WHOLE world than feeling appreciated, needed, and loved. And I am grateful that I feel that here from the members here. 

Mid-week pic surprise! Yay!

Claudia Paz Tello Marin, from the branch in Sodertalje, had the missionaries over to say goodbye to Syster Sandberg, who was leaving the area, and then Systers Salcedo and Miller, who are coming home!  What a sweet family to watch over our missionaries!

 

 

 

Systers Hosenfeld and Sandberg find FOUR new investigators...and she heads to Stockholm this Wednesday to pick up a new trainee! Farewell, Syster Sandberg.

Hejsan, everyone! 

These past seven days have been very enjoyable. Here are a couple of the highlights:

*****We found four new investigators! The past six weeks of being here, Syster "Squishy" Sandberg and I have been working out of the areabook, trying to contact everyone who once was interested in learning about the church. While we visit these people, we knock on all of the doors in their apartment building. And guess what? Two different families let us in! 

The first was a teenage girl and her father. We knocked on their door and asked if we could share a short message about God's Love. They said yes! We taught them about The Book of Mormon being a sign on God's love for us, and invited them to read it. Thankfully, Syster Sandberg is super prepared, so she had an Arabic Book of Mormon for them in their bag. I am so grateful that the Book of Mormon is translated into so many languages!

The second were two young women from Syria. Their religion centers around John the Baptist. (I had never heard about this religion, but they explained to us that they believe that John the Baptist was a prophet, they read from a unique Holy Book, and they always wash their hands before they pray.) We showed them a short video that the church produced about Jesus Christ called, "Because of Him."I asked them who Jesus Christ was to them, and they said that they had never thought about it. So we invited them to pray about Jesus Christ before we come back nest week.

YAYYYYYY!!! Seriously, I cannot describe how grateful I am that we have people to teach! yayayayayayayaya. Long story short, we have been SUPER blessed this week to teach people. I have also been noticing that this area is very International. This week, we have taught people from Syria, Palestine, United States, Finland, China, and Bolivia. 

*******Training Round Two! Syster Sandberg and I just finished up her last week of training; no longer a Greenie. But the crazy thing... I am training again! I will be picking her up in Stockholm on Wednesday. No time to rest. I am excited! I hope that she likes camp songs... haha.

*******Funny story: This week we contacted a German. And we introduced ourselves, she said, "Hosenfeld. Jewish-German." THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED! I don't understand how I can be German and Jewish in one last name. I am determined to find the answer... 

*********I keep on having super strange dreams about being late to busses. Syster Sandberg and I have because masters at sprinting to busses. Especially on full stomaches after dinner at member's houses. But I always dream that we are running and that we make it to the bus stop and always BARELY miss it. And I'm just trying to interpret that. What is the meaning?? 

This week, I feel extremely blessed! The work is going forward, the weather is still warm for oktober, and we always have something to do. Thanks for your prayers and support. You are the best. :) 

Love,

Syster Hosenfeld

By the way... All of you should see Meet the Mormons for me and let me know how it is. It looks so good!

 

 

Donuts with a family in their branch/ward.

 

There's no general email this week, but I'll share a couple things she said via email. *prayers requested, please*

General Conference-

I watched it with a bunch of members and missionaries. I was even able to listen to it in English!! YAYYY!!!! I watched it in the Västerhaninge Chapel, right across the street from the Stockholm Temple. It was really cool to take a walk around the temple after listening to the talks. I love the temple! It is such an amazing place. 

 

Investigators-

Oh, and investigators... we have none. Baha. We have been working REALLY hard, but they are all dropping off the face of the Earth. So, if you don't mind praying for us, we would appreciate it. :) We have been visiting Old Investigators, Less Actives, and Members and hoping that we can find someone who will listen to us... Missions are humbling! I have never felt like I have had to pray SO hard to get through every day. I am grateful to be here. Thank you for letting me come to a crazy foreign country and do this. I really feel like I couldn't have learned so much in my life without coming here.

 

 

The Södertälje missionaries say good-bye to the Lowry's who leave this week. They will be missed!

 

 

Thanks to Syster Sandberg's mama, Lesa, I DO have some pics to post this week! Yay!

Systers Hosenfeld and Sandberg serving in Sodertalje

 

 

Wow- look at that hair!

These four systers are living in the same apartment - close quarters, I'm sure.