This has been a fabulous last week. I was able to see some of my favorite people in the country! I'll explain :)
So Tuesday we took a plane down to the holy land of Malmö and went on splits with the ZLs. I was with the ever so fantastic Elder Carrigan. He is one of my best friends ever and I was so happy to work with him this week! We had a member meal with my life long friend Magnus Molbæk. Magnus has been a diligent reader of my blog ever since I left Malmö and now he is reading my last post! Thanks for all that you do Magnus! You're the man!
We did some work that Tuesday night and then on Wednesday we had district meeting in Lund. Funny "coincidence" but the first district meeting I had in Sweden was held in the Lund YSA center and I had my last one there as well. Skåne will forever have my heart!
We swung by a bakery in Lund so I could see my man Su. We had a super good talk and at the end Su told me that he wants to start taking the missionary lessons again but more seriously. He is so good and will come around soon :) what a guy. We drove back to Malmö and had a lesson with madly ripped Innocent! it was good to see him too!
Man I will miss Malmö...
We flew back Wednesday and went straight to president's to confirm transfers. We decided to make some last second decisions and then gave the transfer board to the POEs to start booking travel.
Thursday we had district meeting here in Täby with our district. It was super good and then we had a "funeral" for me. It got really sappy and stuff but I made it through hahaha. The Beckstrand's made this super funny video about some of our memories! Mom you are going to love it! Hahaha ;) After district meeting we went on a quick splits with Jakobsberg. I was with the stud Elder Castleton-Rudolph! We got blåsted (lessons didn't come) twice so we tracted for a few hours. It was good, Castleton-Rudolph is a super funny guy!
Friday we had a train the trainers meeting and trained the new trainers who will be getting greenies next week. We have 5 elders coming and 6 sisters. The new trainers are super excited and all the greenies have their visas so they'll be coming in! We went to Herma's after that and ate some riktig god mat :) she is the best
Ok Saturday was the highlight of the week. I had one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission.
So I'll preface this by a quick reminder. So remember when I was on splits with Elder Svensson and we tracted into a family? Well it was the last door of the day and the family has been investigating the last few weeks. But on Saturday we had a lesson with them and Marimba (the wife) had a ton of questions about 3 Nephi 11. She asked a few questions and then asked us what verse 35:
....... and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Her question was "what does it mean by fire?" I answered by saying "well when you feel the Spirit, it feels very warm; like fire." She then cut me off and said "Wait! I was reading the Book of Mormon this week and an incredible feeling of peace came over me and it felt so warm in my chest, like fire! I had this feeling for about 10 minutes and I prayed to God that it would never leave. I even opened a window because I was so warm! This feeling was definitely not something that I could have created but it had to have come from some other source! I think God was telling me something"
What.
We haven't taught them about the Holy Ghost before. Not how it works or how to recognize it. She didn't know that she would feel that way after reading. She totally described back to us exactly how the Holy Ghost works and what happens when you feel it. It was the biggest refreshing of my testimony I have had in a long time. Wow. There isn't more to be said!
The church is true! Give it a try! Please!
Sunday Marimba and her daughter came to church. I bore my testimony for the last time as a member in Täby ward. Marimba and her daughter had a great time, Elder Bradshaw and I were asked to help in the primary it was a blast!
We went to dinner at the Emanuelsson's after church and laughed while papa Bengt made fun of 11 year old Jakob. They are moving to Holland soon and a super good family here in Täby. They'll be missed!
We had office meeting and then the rest of Sunday I packed my stuff.
Today we are celebrating the 4th of July! #Merica
Well I guess I'll tell you what is going to happen this week too hahaha
Tuesday greenies come.
Wednesday greenies will get their trainers and then at 3:00 I'll go to the temple with my MTC group.
Thursday at 6:30 a.m. I'll drive to the airport and my plane leaves at 9:05 for Newark and then I'll get on a plane to Omaha.
That's it folks. I can't believe it's here. I miss Sweden so much already but there is no place like home and no people like family. I feel like I have had the perfect mission for what I needed. Funny how that works. These experiences and these people have forever changed my life and I only have my Heavenly Father to thank. I have tried my best to do everything for him and I still fall short. Thanks to the Grace of Jesus Christ, he makes up the rest. It says in Moroni 10:32 to love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you. I love our Father and His son and need their grace everyday. I am nothing without it.
My mission has blessed me with a testimony of this gospel, with a knowledge that Joseph Smith was given the priesthood authority to restore the church back on earth and translate the Book of Mormon. I know this because of diligent scripture study in that book. Both the Book of Mormon and Bible are the word of God. They each had their roll in history and came forth in different times to testify of our Savior. I love Him and will serve Him.
I'm excited to be with my family and especially spending my time with my sisters. You guys mean the world to me. I must acknowledge my parents as well, they have my heart and I would do anything for them. Thanks again to everyone who has supported my on my mission. For all the prayers, letters of encouragement and care packages full of American goodies. Take care and see you on the other side!
signing off on last time..
Hej hej!
Äldste Spencer Jeffrey Hemmingsen
July 2014- July 2016