Sweden covered in snow, and Kenzie runs into an old friend, Joseph

One of my favorite experiences this week has been seeing the change of an investigator we are teaching. He is now being taught by the elders, instead, but it has been special to see him grow. For the past few months, he has (as corny as it sounds) truly changed. It has been an experience that has strengthened my hope for the world: the fact that we can change. No one is perfect, but everyone has the ability to become better. He has a new desire to live. That is about how specific I can be. But long story short, it is never too late to change.

 

Beautiful sights from train rides. :)

 

The classiest Red Cross Second-Hand I have ever seen. #hipster.

 

Does this face look familiar?

JOSEPH! 

I saw his kids a few weeks ago, and I saw him on the bus on Wednesday. It was such a tender mercy to see him. I have missed him dearly. It was nice to catch-up and talk about his family. It was a reminder of all of the people who I adore here. I don't want to say bye to them. 

Dinner from a few weeks ago. :)



 

We went over to the Wesemeyer's home again! They are such genuine and loving people. Nina let us take a stroll with her Spark (a kick sled).

 

This week it snowed for more than four days. 

Pros: 

-Sweden is BEAUTIFUL in white. 

-It lightens up the long nights.

Cons:

-Bruises on my legs from falling.

-Crazy hair days.

 

 

 We helped them with a little painting job. (Sidenote: painting. Extremely difficult. Who knew?) 

This week, we had countless opportunities to serve. It started with visiting a less-active for a lesson who we hadn't met before. We talked for a few minutes, but then she kindly let us know that she was feeling really weak and needed to relax. We understood, but then her little son came into the kitchen and asked for food. She didn't have anything prepared and looked overwhelmed. Syster Hoke and I offered that we could make dinner. She accepted our offer after convincing her that we would love to. She relaxed in her room while Syster Hoke made pancakes and I cleaned the house. It was a very rewarding experience to feel needed. She was extremely appreciative and kept on thanking us for being willing to do that for her. Then later that week we helped paint at the Wesemeyers, although it was too fun to consider it "service". Long story short- helping others is the easiest way to feel happy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One month till she's home! That's bittersweet for a missionary, though...

This week we were able to teach 21 lessons. TWENTY-ONE. That is unheard of! We have been incredibly blessed to see success in the past few weeks. Holy cow. I haven't taught that many lessons since Halmstad.

 

This week has been FANTASTIC. Seriously, couldn't have asked for better! It was filled with service, lots of lessons, pie, and heart-attacking. Which out-numbered the ice, atheist, and exhausting experiences. But that won't keep me from telling you them all. :)

 

We have been so blessed lately. I feel very happy. We had five less actives in church and two investigators. Things are going really smoothly. Phew!

 

 

 

P-day last week consisted of going to the Genocide Museum in Stockholm. It focused on Genocide against the Romani people, also known as gyspies. It was probably the most sobering museum I have been to, but it really struck me how we as people are so alike. Yes, we have different cultures, different languages, different beliefs, but we all have an inner-desire to love and help. I'm grateful that we were able to go because it helped me see the Romani people in a different light. 

 

Freddy. He reminds me so much of Ryland. I love it. 

 

 

Dinner with Lingonberry and Lime. 

 

SERVICE

Syster Hoke and I traveled to Gnesta to visit the Wesemeyer Family. They have been having us over about once a week to help them move into their new home quietly nestled in the middle of the forest. Every time we visit, I fall even more in love with all of them. They are such sincere, genuine, grateful people. Their love makes me miss my family. We helped them organize and put some boxes into storage. Meanwhile, they gave us more CDs that they have recorded. Nina and Rikard, the parents, are epic musicians. They create Swedish Folk music- they are hipsters without knowing it. After, they made us moose (mousse?) (yum) and Syster Hoke made our dessert: no bake cookies. They loved them. They are such incredible examples of service- I have felt such incredible love and acceptance from them. I feel that they have been a blessing that I have needed- I have so many families here in Sweden. It makes it hard to think about going home. 

 

Star of the Week: Gertie

Okay, I want to tell you about a member of the ward. Her name is Gertie. I may have talked about her before because she is amazing, but I want to tell a story of her from this week. She introduced us to a family from Iraq she met. She introduced them to the gospel, and we have been teaching them every other month. They moved a few miles away and we planned on visiting them again. We met her at her house and took the bus with her because she didn't want to go alone. (By 3.30, it is pitch-black here.) The weather was freezing rain and powerful wind. We walked with her, trying to find the address, with no luck. I felt so bad. There was 80-year-old Gertie with her walking poles and ice-shoes walking at the pace of a turtle, trying to survive the wind. Eventually, we called them and just asked them to walk with us. The story ended up well- we were able to make it there safely... 60 minutes later. Gertie is the best! She is such a powerful example and is willing to go the extra mile to help us- including trekking through horrible weather to come with us on a lesson. My favorite quote of the night from Gertie: "I feel like a pioneer!"

 

This week, camp counselor "Dory" came out and we did heart-attacks to a few less active members who need extra love. For all of you who haven't had the pleasure of either being a part of the Young Women's Program or Brighton Camp, heart-attacking is writing compliments on heart shaped papers and posting them on someone's door along with sweets. It was enjoyable and it felt like we were doing something for these members who mean the world to us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday has been the best one of my entire mission. It was absolutely perfect.

This Sunday has been the best one of my entire mission. It was absolutely perfect. It was chaotic and a tiny-bit stressful because four investigators and four less-actives came to church. That is unheard of! It was so cool to see everyone show up, despite the huge snow storm that we received the night before. There were so many people to introduce and help feel welcome. It was a good kind of stress. The ward is great at inviting people and helping them feel welcome. It was a success. :) It was great to see all of the people I loved there.

 

 

You would NEVER guess who I met on the bus! Gracia and Edwardo- Joseph's kids from Täby. Joseph was the investigator who we taught for the six weeks while I was there. It was such a small world. They live with their dad in Täby part time and in Södertälje with their mom for the rest of the time. It was so great to see them. They are the ones who recognized me and said hi. It was awesome!

 

Beautiful churches in Stockholm. (This one is the German Church.)

 

I want to introduce you to a friend we met this past week! We met him last Monday. We will name him... Ike. We met Ike on the bus on the way to emailing last P-day. We let him go ahead of us on the bus and he thanked us for being so nice. We ended up talking about God and we exchanged numbers. We were so busy this week that we didn't have the opportunity to teach him, but we invited him to church on Sunday. He came! And he stayed for the whole three hours and called us after, telling us how much he enjoyed it. He said that he loved the lessons and the friendly people. He is from Africa but has lived here for 30 years or more. He told us that coming to church has been an answer to prayers he has said recently. We are excited to see where this goes!

 

Okay, and I just have to talk about the Schiazannos again. They are the ABSOLUTE best. They let us come over last night despite the fact that they have had us over so frequently this past month. They decorated everything for Elder Packer's birthday, made the cake, and just made us feel so loved and welcome. I am so grateful for them. They do SO much! I definitely see them as a huge blessing. They are my family here.  Syster Hoke, Alice (the daughter), and I made chili and cornbread- it was really fun to work together. The Schiazzano's decorated the living room with streamers and made a delicious cake. He turned 21. Pretty old. It was nice to be together and spend more time with the Schiazzano's. Even though we have been at their house so frequently with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they are always so willing to have us come over. They are the best. I love my families here in Sweden. :)

Kenzie will be finishing her mission in Södertälje with Syster Hoke!!!

 

Sister Hoke and I have found a good trade-off. She doesn't like calling people, I don't like baking particularily, so she made Waffles as I did calls for the week. I think I got longer side of the stick. (Is that a saying?)

Splits with my Sister Training Leader, Sister DeMille. It is weird that I am the oldest sister missionary now. Yikes!



Our district meeting in Katrineholm. Only sisters! 

 

Late Nights

As we were getting ready for bed yesterday, Syster Hoke brought up my imminent flight back home to the United States next month. We talked for a little bit about the lessons I have learned, the people I have met, the things I have seen. And then she fell asleep at about 10:30. But I could not stop thinking. My mind just kept on running over the blessings I have seen, the prayers that have been answered, and the fact that it WILL one day end. It will! There is a reason why missions aren't for a lifetime: It'd kill you. Your body and mind cannot survive a mission longer than 18 months or 2 years. Seriously. But I am just getting a little sentimental as I have been looking back and seeing what a huge impact this mission has made on my life. I cannot believe that this was something that never crossed my mind five years ago. I feel very grateful to be here.

 

Cookies, Cards, Conversations

As you already know, December was a month full of baking and delivering notes and goodies to less-actives who we haven't had the opportunity of meeting yet. Usually we would leave them tied to the door with a ribbon because they wouldn't be home, and we didn't receive many replies. But a few weeks ago, we went by a woman who the elders are responsible for. We asked the elders if we could drop by her house, but they said that they have already been by, but she hadn't been home. We said that we would still like to drop by some cookies to her. So we did. :) And she was not only at home and answered the door, but she was really positive! She said that she has been "thinking about the church lately" and asked for a Book of Mormon, which we had in our bag. We were able to teach her at her home this past week and it was a powerful lesson. We spoke of Jesus Christ and the Atonement. She told us her conversion story and her testimony of the Book of Mormon. I felt a very special feeling during the lesson and I was reminded about the countless chances God gives us to come back to Him. I feel that most members who no longer come to church still have a belief in God, the Book of Mormon, and the doctrines that we teach. It is just difficult to ACT. It can be difficult to go to church, to do the small things like praying and studying the scriptures, etc. I am grateful that God always gives me more chances because I know that I don't live up to my potential. I am happy that I can be here to help people receive another chance. :) 

 

MIRACLE WEEK

Someone has been praying extra hard for us this week because we found four new investigators and one new less-active to work with! It has been really strange that we have been given so much success this week because I feel like we have been working as hard as we usually do. Things just worked out this week! Two of them are super positive. We will call them Kalle and Kameron. We met Kalle (Pakistani) a few months ago, but he wasn't open or positive. But this week, he called us, wanting to meet. He brought a friend with him to the lesson at the church, Kameron, from Afghanistan. We taught about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. At the beginning of the lesson, we gave them the Book of Mormons in their languages and Kameron started flipping through the pages and could not stop looking at the book through the lesson. We read Moroni 10:3-5 together from the Book of Mormon that promises us that if we read and pray, that we can receive an answer if it is truly God's word. After we read that together, Kameron said, "I already know this is true." We then told them about Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson and Kameron got extremely excited! After we prayed and left the lesson, he asked me, "Could I email this prophet?" It was really inspiring to see their faith. They came to church yesterday and said that they were excited to "learn" and "meet nice people". They have been a huge tender mercy this week. Keep them in your prayers, please! :) 

 

Transfer News

Sister Hoke and I are staying here another six weeks- which means two things! First, that I will end my mission here in Södertälje and second, that she will be my "killing" companion. (In missionary language, the last companion of your mission "kills" the "dying" missionary) When I got the call saying that we would stay, I wanted to cry out of gratitude. I am so excited to spend more time here in this awesome area with my caring companion. I am so happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shout out to the wonderful Schiazzano, Anderson and Wesemeyer families for treating our missionaries so well over the holidays!

 

My Christmas Day was absolutely perfect! We spent it with the Schiazzanos. They are some of the most loving people I have ever met. They give so much it makes me feel guilty. They had us not only on Christmas Day, but also on Christmas Eve. They fed us like royalty, and they do it without expecting anything in return. I don't know how to describe it. The love that the members here have for us is inspiring.

 

 

Beautiful Christmas Morning!

One of my favorite experiences during these past few weeks was on Christmas morning. We arrived at the Schiazzano's home about thirty minutes early, and we didn't want to impede more than we had the past days we spent with them. I took out the small English hymnbook I had in my backpack and we started caroling around their neighborhood, which was mostly of apartment complexes. No one was out, but we were having fun anyways. We had been singing about thirty minutes in when a few families opened their windows and cheered for us after we had stopped singing "Joy to the World". We were able to talk to a few people who thanked us for singing to them. It was a sweet experience. I felt the spirit strongly as we sung about the Savior. I feel so much closer to Him through serving Him and learning about Him. I feel so blessed to have a knowledge of Him. Many people here tell me, "It must be a burden to be Christian and do what you are doing." But I don't see it that way. When we sacrifice, we ALWAYS receive more than we give. 

 

Where am I serving? Bronx? #prayerswouldbeappreciated. haha.

My "Mission Family". 

Syster Hoke (mission daughter), Syster Nielson (mission grand-daughter), and Syster "Squishy" Sandberg (mission daughter)

 

Merry Christmas from Syster Hoke and Syster Hosenfeld

This was a pic we took when we travelled an hour away to visit a less-active. She wasn't there, but we left cookies and a card. I feel like I spend most of my mission on a bus.



 Sunsets in Sweden.



Christmas morning, we went to the Swedish Church for a Christmas Devotional. It was really simple and beautiful, the preacher read the story of Christ's birth from Lukas 2. It was nice to be together with people who believe in Christ. (Or at least come to church once a year.)



 

The traditional four Advent candles- one is lit every Sunday leading to Christmas.

 

Spending the 23rd with the Wesemeyers. They are a Swedish family who just moved here from Täby. I am so happy that I can see them again. They are very genuine people who love nature; they live in the middle of the forest precisely by a lake. It was such a fun time to celebrate with them because we had the typical Swedish Christmas food with a German twist (the dad has German parents.) They have such an amazing ability of making us feel loved. 

 

My Favorite Christmas Memories:

Syster Hoke is really talented at baking. But she made too many batches of brownies and we were left wondering what we should do we them. So we came up with the idea of putting them in little baggies to deliver to the neighbors in our apartment building. We left it with a note wishing them a Merry Christmas and our pass-along card. We received two responses back later that night: a letter welcoming us to Sweden and a bag of oranges. :)

 

 

Oh wait! Funny story. Yesterday we took our language study time and went to Stockholm's Culture House. We looked through some magazines and found some words that we didn't know in Swedish. While we were doing this, three men came and sat on a bench across from us. They were quietly exchanging words and small packages from their jackets. Something was up. We continued studying and more people came and others left- it was quite sketchy. Sister Hoke looked at me and said, "Should we do something?" I shaked my head (I had to leave that in there!)- I didn't want to get involved. But I picked up a piece of paper, found my pen, and started drawing them. I made sure that they knew I was watching them, then I would look down at the paper and draw. This continued on for five minutes or so. By this time, Syster Hoke is wondering what I am doing. We put on our jackets, got our backpacks on, and left the Culture House. Before we did, I smiled at them and left the piece of paper turned down on the seat. Then we left. I wish I could have seen the expressions on their faces when they looked at the paper, expecting something accurate and seeing my HORRIBLE drawing. haha. I got a good laugh from that.

 

We celebrated (New Year's Eve?) Christmas Eve by first going to a Sister Missionary Party at 3 o'clock. Missionaries here cannot work past kl 15 because people start partying early in the day. It was really nice to see Syster "Squishy" Sandberg and Syster Bass. We played spoons, I won, and then we talked for a bit. We couldn't stay for very long because we were invited to celebrate New Year's Eve with a family in the ward, 90 minutes away. It was good to see other missionaries! We had a fun time at the Anderson's, as well. It was low-key; card playing, delicious food, and trying to survive until 12. We made it! It was super strange to celebrate the coming of 2015... it is going to take me a few weeks to get that down. It was a very good day!

 

 

Christmas Skype and Jul in Sodertalje

 

What their family saw from Sweden - yep, I'm a dorky mish mom.

 Alice (Claudia and Italo's daughter), Syster Hosenfeld, Syster Hoke, and Aldste Rasmussen

 

Syster Hosenfeld and Syster Hoke 

 

 

Dinner with Claudia and Italo and their family - what cute "place cards" (gingerbread houses)!

 

Our Christmas family picture - next year we'll have her with us!!!

Sankta Lucia

 

 

#spreadingtheword. haha

 

We did some cookie decorating with the Young Women this week. The Elder Missionary turned out good, I think. The sister? Not so much... don't try to turn an angel cookie into a missionary. She will just look fat.

 

Our "Home Sweet Home" is an absolute wreck in preparation for Christmas. 

 

Spreading "Han är Gåvan" (He is the Gift). This time, I wrote it on the cold bus waiting place. Wait... that doesn't sound right. haha. 

 

 

We have been dropping off cookies and a note to most of the less-actives who we have responsibility over. One of them doesn't speak much English or Swedish, so I asked Äldste Rasmussen to translate into Spanish. What an embarrassing moment for me to have to ask him for help even though I took three years in high school. I don't remember anything. Although Swedish hasn't helped me remember, I wish that I would have practiced my Spanish more before my mission. So, that is a tip to all of you pre-missionaries. Even if you don't get called to a Spanish-speaking mission, practice your Spanish. You WILL use it. I am in Sweden and I could use it daily. Just a tip. :) Be better than me. 

 

 

 

Pday last week! We went to the Swedish Coin Treasury (free on Mondays. Woot). It was cool to learn about the old coins that were used thousands of years ago. But I will not want to look at a coin for a while now...

This week we had a fantastic lesson with the family from Iraq! They invited us over, along with the member that introduced us, Gertie. We had a delicious, traditional Middle-Eastern lunch.

It included chicken, bulgar, vegetables, beans, and a drink that is made of Turkish yogurt, water, and salt. It was so good! And of course with their giving culture, we ate so much. Not out of choice, but necessity. Everytime I would eat the things on my plate, the father of the household would scoop more food onto my plate. It happened multiple times. Let's just say that I didn't need dinner that night.

The lesson was really special. We read out of 3 Nephi 11 together. The family read in Arabic while we read in Swedish. This chapter describes the Savior coming to the American continent after His Resurrection. This is one of my absolute favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon because I can feel the Spirit testify to me that it is true. Every time I read about Him inviting the people to come and feel the prints in His hands and sides, I feel such gratitude for Him. About halfway through the chapter, we asked them how they would feel if they could have been there and felt the prints. They said that they would thank Him.

We ended the lesson by inviting them to read the rest of the chapter together as a family and to come to church. We will be meeting with them a few days after Christmas. :)  

 

 

Sankta Lucia! One of my favorite Swedish traditions by far. Wikipedia describes it så här: "In Scandinavia, where Lucy is called Lucia, she is represented by a person dressed in a white dress and red sash with a crown or wreath of candles on her head. In both Norway and Sweden, girls (or sometimes boys) dressed as Lucy carry rolls and cookies in procession as songs are sung. It is said that to vividly celebrate St. Lucy's Day will help one live the long winter days with enough light." Basically, it is the prettiest concert choir you will ever go to! Beautiful candles, Swedish songs, and Christmas. I love it. 

 

 

 

Christmas party! A few weeks ago a cute family called, wanting the elders and us to come over to their house. We had fika, prayed together, and invited her to read the Book of Mormon. (They declined). We invited them to the Christmas party and they came! It was really good to see them there. This is is a picture of the six of us. God Jul, y'all! 

 

Last week I had one of the most EPIC preparation days EVER! Syster Hoke and I planned on going to Skansen, an outdoor zoo. We traveled to Stockholm and then saw that we would only have a few hours to spend there. We decided to go next week earlier so that we would have more time to explore. We walked around that area and saw the ABBA Museum. We decided to go! It was the most fun museum I have been to yet. It was fun seeing their costumes, learning how they became famous, and listening to their music. But the best part was that you could perform a song at the end of the tour! We had a blast and it was a good "relaxer" after a pretty stressful week.