There are a few rather large paragraphs this week... Varsågod!
Mission conference! we had the great opportunity to fly to Stockholm and learn from Elder Johnson of the Seventy. He is in the area presidency for Europe. It was so great to hear from him and his wife. You could tell that they were really great people. They had the best stories and missionary advice.
Jakub! Our investigator Jakub will be baptized this Saturday the 10th! Emmanuel Palm, a great member in the branch, is going to baptize him. Here's the quick backstory on Jakub: In September, Äldste Harris and I were street contacting in the dark near our apartment by a store called Coop. We were just stopping everyone the Lord put in our path (something Elder Harris does very well even when Elder Francis is not feeling it) and we began to talk to a 19 year old guy with white skinny jeans from Stockholm. We talked about faith and in the end switched numbers with him. We tried for a month to get a meeting set up and finally did. Elder Harris and Elder Callor met with him on splits one evening. It almost didn't work out because Jakub could only meet after like 7 (when everything in Sweden is already closed). But, thanks to Elder Harris' persistence, they met at a little restaurant in stan.
The next Sunday as we were driving to church and calling people, Elder Harris suggested that we ask Syster Dahlkvist if we could teach Jakub at her house. Member present lessons are so good for investigators! I thought it was a good idea but didn't really think Syster Dahlkvist would say yes. We called and asked if we could teach Jakub at her house and she basically said no. A few days later, she called us and said that she felt bad for saying no and that she would love to have Jakub be taught at her house. It was splits again when we set up the next lesson, so Elder Harris and Elder Barker taught him with the Dahlkvists.
We continued to teach him every week with the Dahlkvist family. He is really good friends with them now (especially their 18 year old daugter) and I am so happy that he has chosen to be baptized. Missionary work is so cool!
There are people in the world right now who are ready to accept the Gospel if we put forth the effort! No one person is responsible for Jakub's conversion, but I will say that it would not have happened without Elder Harris' persistence from the beginning. Thank you for the fasting and praying for Jakub!
Mujtaba! He is a man from Afghanistan that we have been teaching for about 3 weeks. At the last lesson, we taught him about the 10 commandments and invited him to church. Elder Erdman and I were both expecting him to turn down the offer because the church is either an hour bus ride or a 30 minute drive (if one of the members can drive) down to Luleå. He said that he would love to come to church and that he would skip his soccer game and pay for a bus ticket! We ended up finding a ride for him, and he came to church! Go Mujtaba!
During church, I asked him how it was going with reading the Book of Mormon and praying. He shared a really sweet experience. He explained that after the lesson he had a really great feeling with him the rest of the day, and he didn't know why. Then he said that he woke up in the middle of the night and remembered that we had commited him to pray each day. He said that he prayed right then. Mujtaba is so cool.
Two weeks ago we got a new member in the branch! Her name is Jennifer and she is here playing for Luleå Basketball. She is SO TALL. Anyway, last night the systers were driving with her in her car and they got in an accident... Everyone is fine but not the car. Elder Erdman and I went with our branch mission leader Brother Vinberg to give Jennifer a blessing today.
It has been a really cool week! The sun is out more and more, and I am realizing how much I have been missing it! I had forgotten that more light could possibly exist. This experience has made me think about how it is this way for our spiritual sides, too. We get used to the amount of light we have and forget that there is so much more that can be received! The Son is the great source of light, and as we turn to Him through repentance we are able to gain more light. D&C 84:45: The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Have the best week!
Äldste Francis
Pictures coming soon if we can find a phone cord... ;)
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