Hello everybody, hope you have all had a good week. Here is some of the main things that happened to me this past week.
The first half of the week was just a lot of goodbyes to people in Borlänge. Had a few lessons and a few meals with members. The lesson worth talking about is Tommy's lesson though. We finished teaching him everything he needs to be taught before baptism, and went through some procedural things that he should know. Like I have mentioned many times Tommy is a very quiet and awkward guy and rarely says more than 3 words at a time, and though I have not seen huge differences in him since I have been teaching him these past 3 months, I definitely can see small, gradual changes in his demeanor and mood. A little more talkative or a little more happy. That is cool for me to see and a testament that the gospel can bring everyone joy, even if it comes in different ways and speeds for different people. When we asked how he is feeling about the baptism coming up, he gave a typical Tommy answer using only one word, but the word he chose was "special". Thankfully my mission president has given me permission to go back to Borlänge for the baptism this coming Sunday, so stay tuned to hear about that next week. (Tommy is the guy with glasses and striped shirt in the pictures).
Thursday was travel day, got to my new city Linköping about halfway through the day. The city is pretty cool, honestly smaller than I expected for 5th biggest city in Sweden but it is nice for a change to be in a bigger city even if it's not huge. There is branch here instead of a ward and at church on Sunday we had 13 people (including us 2 missionaries and the visiting stake president), and I already gave my first talk haha. Most of the members are older but they are all pretty nice.
Friday and Saturday day we had a few lessons, game night (happens weekly in this area 🙌), and a branch activity where we were in charge and we decided to dye easter eggs. All the lessons we have had so far have gone pretty well. For 2 of them we taught the plan of salvation and the people we were teaching were pretty receptive and liked almost everything we said, one was a 75 year old guy from Sudan who grew up muslim but now is wanting to become Christian, and one was with a very funny and energetic guy from Chile who has been taught everything by the missionaries in a short period and has now begun to pray about baptism.
Things have been decent with the new companion so far. He was in a trio last transfer and though he was in this area it seems that he doesn't really know who most of the people are in our teaching pool so we have just been trying to figure out who is interested and who isn't. Besides that obstacle things have been going decently well so far. He is good at teaching and friendly with the members.
Throughout my whole mission and still now it has sometimes been hard for me to feel like I am being successful. I could go more into the details of why but that is not what I want to focus on. Of course some missionaries are better at different things and that is just how life is, but it can be difficult for me sometimes feeling I am not reaching the same levels as others in certain areas of missionary work. But after recently talking with my family and pondering more about this, it brings me peace to know that all the Lord asks is that we give our best effort every day. Even if some days we can give more than others. Like it says in D&C 123:17 - "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." All we need to do is do our best and have humility that the results the Lord knows are best for us will come.
Alma 26:12🙌💪 - "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."
Sorry for the more boring email this week, feels like not a lot happened.
Hope everyone has a good week
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