This group of missionaries was incredible and are going to be missed for a long time. They changed mission and were inspiring leaders. I MISS YOU ALL :(((
So on Tuesday, we went to the airport early to get the new greenies. There are 5 new elders and 10 sisters. It is so fun to see their little jet-lagged faces all excited and ready to be missionaries. Their plane came in 1 hour late so that messed up the day we had planned.
We first ran them to migration and got them registered in the Swedish system. Then we took them to the YSA center in downtown Stockholm to eat and do some contacting! That is always a super fun time to go contacting with the fresh new missionaries! So good! We had plans to show them the Temple but there was bad traffic and a hiccup. Here is the story, There is a parking garage that we always go to and you just put in your card when you enter and put it in when you leave, easy right? Well the POE's (proselyting office elders) used their gas card to pay for our car but then they left and forgot to let us use the card to get out... so we called them... their phone was dead.... so yeah we were stuck in the garage for about an hour until they realized we couldn't leave the garage... nevertheless we didn't get to go to the temple...
We finally made it to the mission home, ate dinner and did some simple orientations..
Wednesday was the much anticipated greenies (the new missionaries straight from the MTC) getting their trainers meeting. It was really a beautiful meeting, here is the story:
So you all might know Elder Kendall who has been one of our POEs the last few transfers. Well he left the office this week to train, but the story doesn't start there. When he was in the MTC, a kid in his district went home but wanted to come back out when he was more ready. Elder Kendall and he were really good friends. Elder Kendall was heart-broken to see his friend leave but they traded name-tags and decided to trade back once Elder Hawkins came to Sweden. Elder Hawkins came to Sweden this week and will be trained by.... Elder Kendall. Elder Kendall knew he was training but didn't know who and when he learned it was Hawkins the two were very emotional. It was a fairy tale ending!! And those two have been rippin it in my old stomping grounds of Eskilstuna!! #loveyouguys!
On Wednesday night we drove to the Temple to pick up the departing missionaries. As I was walking to the Temple, I was three MEN taking a picture with President Beckstrand. As I got closer I figured out that those men were Elders Archibald, Isrealsen, and Featherstone. They are returing home as new men in Christ. They have lived their missions to it's fullest and have been incredible. I look up to you guys!
That night we had testimony meeting with the missionaries going home. I made some cinnamon rolls and Sister Beckstrand was disappointed. I failed her recipe... haha, she said that she'll make some with me later so I can learn (little does she know that Jodi makes better cinnamon rolls ;) hahaha) I talked a lot with Elder Archibald and Sister Bateman that night, bland annat, we all made plans to hit up Lake Powell as usual haha. Thursday morning we took the missionaries to the airport and they hopped on their planes.
When we got home we started our preparation for MLC, the week, the month, and the transfer... #norestforthewicked
Saturday was tons of planning and we had a lesson with Jasmine. She just beams in the gospel. We also looked at the transfer board with Pres. Five more weeks... times flies when you're having fun...
Well that is what I got :) I hope everyone who has the opportunity to serve a mission does it, it'll be exactly what you need (if you let it). Not necessarily what you want but Gods knows better then you. I looove my mission :)
Don't forget to look for oppurtunites to serve. Something that I have loved doing here is loving/helping individuals, and letting them know that you need them.
Have a good week! Church is true!!
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äldste hemmingsen