Boden Week 6 - October 9, 2017

Hey Again!

I had splits again this week! Elder Harris and I traveled down to Skellefteå and stayed with Elder Barker and Elder Callor. I spent the whole day with Elder Callor which was awesome because we are both Greenies! We were able to say what we needed to say and go where we needed to go! It was so cool to see that I have progressed with Swedish! It was also so cool to be companions with Elder Callor, someone I have know for 4 years now! Who would have thought that we would be sharing the Gospel together in Northern Sweden someday?

It was the last district meeting of this transfer! The biggest change is that Syster Nelson, my mission 'mom,' is being transferred! So there will be a new syster missionary in Luleå. I will stay in Boden with Elder Harris, as we expected. It feels great to be at the beginning of another transfer! The last 6 weeks went by so quickly!

I love Boden! I always think of Baden when I see the Boden sign and I think of Autumn when I see the tree leaves! Right now it isn't raining too hard but there are always lots of rain clouds! We did get to see the sky yesterday, though, for a little bit! 

Boden Week 5 - October 2, 2017

Hello Hello!

Another week has flown by!

Conference! What a great opportunity to hear the inspired words of our church leaders! I have watched all but the Sunday evening session so far. What wonderful words to ponder and to apply. Elder Harris and I went to President Hugo Nässlund's home to watch the Saturday morning session. We got to have dinner with him and his family beforehand. It is so cool to see such a strong Swedish family! President Nässlund served his mission in Salt Lake City and he shared so many cool stories with us! I have gained a great respect for the president of this tiny branch of the Church in Luleå, Sweden.

One of the most amazing parts of the week... Elder Harris and I were just tracting along, and all of a sudden we came to the home of a lady who had been a foreign exchange student in Las Vegas! And had stayed with an LDS family! She was so excited to talk to us! The host family she stayed with has 3 grandchildren who are on missions right now! We were invited to come back and visit her, so Elder Harris and I will follow up with that this week! It was such a blessing to remember that we are truly directed with where to go.  

Another great story! Elder Harris and I were walking into stan (the city center) when we saw a man carrying a stationary bike on his back! We offered to help him carry it home and he gratefully accepted our offer. We were able to sit with him for a few minutes after being let in to his apartment and we will begin teaching him and his girlfriend this week! 

Also this week! Elder Harris and I visited a less active member named Brother Jensen. It turns out that he is from Cody, Wyoming and I have been to the same chapel in Cody and the Boy Scout camp nearby that he remembers going to as a young man! I know that there is no coincidence in me meeting him! We had a great conversation and lesson with him and my testimony was again strengthened that Jesus Christ directs this work and that Elder Harris and I are lead to those whom we specifically must teach.

Splits was on Wednesday! I had the awesome experience of being companions with Elder Harden for a day! Elder Hardin is the Zone Leader in Umeå with Elder Moulton. I learn so much every time I go out with another missionary. 

On Thursday, there was district meeting again! It is always so nice to discuss with other missionaries. Later Thursday evening, Elder Harris and I helped an older lady in the branch named Elin move to Harrads, a tiny town 40 minutes north of Boden. The Luleå systers and a few other branch members helped, too! It was great except for one thing... I lost my name tag. So somewhere between Boden and Harads there is a little black badge with my name on it! Hopefully someone will find it and start investigating the church!

Elder Harris and I taught Petrus again this week! He had some great questions as usual and still isn't sure if he can believe in God. We also taught some of our other investigators: Fabian, Jacinta, and Albert. The number one invitaton that Elder Harris and I extend to people is to read the scriptures and to pray. My testimony of these two simple yet crucial acts has strengthened as we have continually invited everyone we meet to read Mormons Bok and to pray to know of its truthfulness. I know that reading and praying aren't just for those interested in the church, reading and praying are for missionaries and members as well. As I have continually read and prayed about the Book of Mormon, I have gained a stronger testimony that it is the word of God! I hope and pray that those whom Elder Harris and I have the privilege of teaching will choose to gain that testimony of the book for themselves and change their life because of it!

I love you all and I am so grateful to be one of the Lord's missionaries!

Äldste Francis

Boden Week 4 - September 25, 2017

Hej san! 

Sweden is so beautiful right now! The leaves turn brighter and brighter every day. Today, the sun came out! It has been pretty rainy/cloudy the past few days so it was nice to see some blue sky!

Tuesday morning was one of the most effective contacting times that Elder Harris and I have had yet. We didn't get anyone'e number or anything like that, but we were let into a house! A nice lady named Monica from New York answered her door when we knocked. After talking on the doorstep for a few minutes, she asked if we wanted any coffee or tea (we had water instead). She also invited us inside out of the cold! We told her all about what what we do as missionaries. In the end, Monica said that she and her husband were pretty busy and active with their own church, but it was cool to talk to someone with American English and cool that someone let us in! When we were done visiting, she said that she had let us in because she thought it was so great to hear American English again, but I like to think that she felt the Spirit. I know that Elder Harris and I are directed to the people we need to talk to everyday and that even if people don't turn into investigators, we are still spreading the light of the Gospel.  

Boden Week 3 - September 18, 2017

Hello again! 

What a week. What a fast week! 

Surströmming! I ate it! It was at the annual branch Surströmming fest! Surströmming is fermented herring, a Swedish delicacy. I had heard from other people that it smells really bad, and it does! Elder Harris and I walked into the church and had a little moment of shock! Ward parties in America don't usually have a smell... The surströmming tasted like super salty fish. It wasn't terrible but I don't think I will add it to my missionary diet! The fest was really fun. Quite a few people brought nonmember friends and I got to know some of the members in the branch a lot better! 

Boden Week 2 - September 11, 2017

Elder Harris and I in front of a Boden sign!

Hello again! Another great week in Sweden.  

A little description of Boden...

Boden is a town in northern Sweden with a population of 18,000. Someone asked me if the streets are cobblestone: They aren't but one cool thing about the roads is that right hand turns are not allowed on a red light like in America. Boden has about 10ish members that come to church regularly. It apparently doesn't get as cold or windy as Luleå because it isn't as close to the sea, so that's nice!

Our District!

Some common activities that I do everyday as a missionary...

-Tracting! We have been tracting in the little area a little ways away from Boden. Every single house looks like it came out of some design magazine. The houses are really nice and well cared for and the people are, too! 

-Contacting! We go into Stan, the city center/shopping area, most every day and talk to people. I usually stop the people and say what I can in Swedish and then Elder Harris carries on the conversation. 

-Visiting less active Members! We have been trying to focus on less active members this week. One person we stopped by was Linda who is from Brazil. She has two cute little kids and her husband is Swedish. He is't a member but we were able to share a message with the whole family!

AHH! This is real! - September 4, 2017

Saying goodbye to my cousin, Elder Shane Peterson, who flies today to New Zealand.

Dear Family,

Well what a week it has been! On Monday morning, I said goodbye to the MTC at 3:30am in the morning!I learned so much there, and 6 weeks feels like such an instant now! We flew all day from SLC to JFK then straight to Stockholm! 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw this beautiful land from the tiny airplane window! There was fog in the air and all of the farms and fields and little winding roads looked so picturesque! The plane landed at 7 AM local time, 11 PM Provo time. 

Mission Home dorm room.

We went to a little chapel in the city and had a great Swedish breakfast with yogurt and muffins and fruit! The rest of the day was great, too! But the best part was when I could go to sleep! 

The next day was Tuesday, the day I got my trainer and my area! I am with Elder Grant Harris from Pullman, Washington. 

Saying goodbye to Elder Butler and his trainer.

After eating a great lunch and traveling to the Stockholm main train station, I said goodbye to all of my MTC buddies and headed off with Elder Harris. 

The Flight to Stockholm - September 30, 2017

Aldste Francis flew with his district to Stockholm on Monday, August 28th. He called us from the Salt Lake airport at 6:30am and we talked almost until 7:30. It was great to hear his voice! He sang Happy Birthday in Swedish to the twins, Eli and Avi, who turned 8 that day. He recited some Swedish scripture for us. He told us lots more about the MTC and was very, very excited to fly to Sweden.

We watched his flight all day on flight tracker.com. He flew to New York and then took a direct flight to Stockholm. The plane landed in Sweden just as we were going to bed Monday night. It was exciting to think about him landing, meeting his mission president and wife, and seeing Sweden for the first time. What an adventure!

Tuesday afternoon we received several emails from the mission home. It was a comfort to see Aldste Francis with the rest of his group at the Stockholm airport, in front of a beautiful lake, and with President and Sister Youngberg.

He likely left the mission home to his new area on Wednesday, by bus, train, plane, or mission van. We are anxious to hear where he went and who his trainer is! His first email should arrive on P-day next Monday.

Final picture of Sam's MTC district, taken on Sunday by a member of their branch presidency.

Sam is in our hearts and thoughts this week. We miss him and hate to have him so far away, but are happy for the incredible experiences he is having and the gospel of Jesus Christ that he is sharing.