Jakobsberg Week 20 - July 2, 2018

Hälsningar från Sverige!

Did June feel short for anyone else? I can't believe it's July 2018! I hope that you are all doing well.

Each Tuesday evening, we have an activity at the church. This week, it was really well attended. Bishop Fhors gave a presentation about 'putting God first,' he is a really good public speaker. It was based on the scripture in Matthew 11:6. After the presentation, we played a fun Scandinavian game called kubb- look it up!

One of the people we are teaching is the niece of one of the members in our ward. She moved here from Chile one month ago. We were able to teach her about the Restoration this week, and Elder Gordon and I felt so good afterward! One of the comments that she made during the lesson was, 'it sounds so logical!' That was good to hear, it helped us to remember that the message we have can be understood. 

Elder Gordon and I started talking to a man on the train on Thursday. We only talked for about 5 minutes then gave him our card and stepped off. Then, he and his family came to church yesterday! Wow! We will hopefully be teaching them sometime this week.

A spiritual experience I had this week happened when Elder Gordon and I were in one of our treasured tracting stunds. 

One thing we like to do is pray for specific things before we begin knocking. One of the specific things we prayed for one day was that we would find someone that we recognized. Well, we did. We were walking up one driveway and Jana, a man we talked to on the street a month ago, was outside working in the yard. He was happy to see us again and we had a good conversation, focused mostly on his career as a concert bassoonist. About 5 minutes in, his wife came outside and started talking to us. She had really good questions and thought it was so interesting to hear about prophets and the plan of salvation. We'll be headed back some time this week to teach them more. Pray for specific things! It makes it really easy to recognize answers.

One other cool part from this week is that we had six member meals! It was marvelous! We usually have one each week. I love the members in this ward, not because they feed us but because of how friendly and faithful they all are! If you're ever in Sweden, make sure to stop by the ward in Jakobsberg!

Have an awesome week!

Äldste Francis

Hi Mama!

That is so funny to hear about Bryant! I am so happy to hear that he is home. I remember Sister Ferrin saying a year ago that he had been out a year. Now it is me! I have exactly one year left.

I am so proud of Ben! I wish that I could be up there on camp staff with him. He will be 21 soon! I will be sending a letter today. Did you get the letter I sent last week? Ben's journal is in it.

One thing that I am actually looking forward to is working outside with everyone again! I want to be a more dedicated, cheerful worker when I get back. I saw a picture of the shed with a blue truck in the background. Is there any news or was someone just visiting??

You are hosting 2 Chinese girls for 2 weeks! Right before Emma goes to China! Where will they stay? Did you volunteer to take them? That will be so exciting!

I feel like I am at a marking point in my mission! Thank you for the email you sent while you were running last week by the way. How did you know to write that, Mama? I am really doing well and loving Jakobsberg, but of course it is hard sometimes. I feel inadequate sometimes with teaching or Swedish or sometimes scared to talk to people. One thing that President told Elder Gordon was that doubting our abilities is doubting that the Lord is able to provide a way. That has been good to think about. Thank you agian for that email!

Girls camp sure sounds fun! That is so cool that so many of our family members were there!

I did get short sleeve shirts here! The elder that was in Jakobsberg before me left a few and Elder Petersen and I were the happy recipiants. They have been a big blessing. For some reason I thought that I wouldn't need any, but Sweden actually does get pretty hot during the summer!

One thing that I need is some new socks, but other than that everything has held out well! 

I love you, too, Mama! This last year has gone fast. I am trying to enjoy every minute here because I know that the next one will go even faster. I love thinking about being home and seeing everyone, I think that just giving Autumn a big hug or having a good chat with Ben or Baden or Emma or Riah or Naomi would be so nice... I need to remind myself that these two years will be short and I need to put all my mind into the work! 

Have a great week!

Sam

This is my ministerial certificate which goes out next July 2, the mission office, me as a soccer player, and the home screen of the Area Book Planner app.