This week we went on splits a ton.. It started off with the Gubbängrn ZLs. I was with the Swede Elder Svensson! His brother lives in Täby, that would be weird Hahahaha. Anyway we went tracking for a few hours and it was super good! The last door we knocked was the home of a family where the wife is Swedish and the husband is from South America. He is an ex-JW and she takes her kids to church every week because she feels it is good for them to believe in God. We had a good 25 minute discussion with them and then set up an appointment for this Saturday! She texted us after we left and thanked us for coming by. She also said that her husband doesn't usually open up about religion but she was happy he did! They are so awesome and have three little girls!! I'm super excited to teach them!
We took a flight to Utby to go on splits with those Zone Leaders. Wednesday night we swung by my good friend Donald. He lives in the Utby area now and it was good to see him one last time before I leave. He still goes to church and I am proud of him!
On splits I was with Elder Richardson. Man he is awesome! We did a lot of street contacting and finding. Elder Bradshaw and Heiner had the bulk of teaching that day. It was a super good day, the sun was out, people were talking. Ah, I just love being a missionary.
Then we took a plane from Göteborg back to Stockholm and then another from Stockholm up to Umeå to go on splits with the ZLs there. I was with my good friend Elder Olsen who is going to be my roommate this Fall at BYUI!! Elder Olsen is awesome. We worked hard all day and just had a blast together. It was cool to see the change he has had since he left the office. I love that guy!
Friday night we were suppose to be taking a plane back from Umeå to the land of Stockholm BUT the pilots of the airline company decided to go on strike... so our flight was cancelled... All of the other planes (all two of them flying out of the small metropolis wonderland of Umeå Sweden) were booked. So we were stuck in Umeå. We called the POEs and decided it would be best if we took a night train from Umeå alllll thhheeee waayyyyy to Stockholm... We left that night at 10pm, changed trains in Västerås at 8am, and then hopped on a bus in Blåsta at 9am and got to Stockholm at 10am.... 12 hours of travel... but it was kinda cool! During the summer, the sun never goes down in Norrland because it is so north, it's called the midnight sun!
When I got on the train, I got a text from Brother Aspelin asking if I could give a talk on Sunday. The topic was personal revelation. I didn't have much time to prepare but it went well. I shared a few scriptures and talked about a couple experiences from my mission. As I was looking out on the Täby ward, it felt like I was in my home ward. Täby has an awesome, loving ward that does so much good. I feel at home there.
Well those were the highlights of this week. Next week we'll be having our mission tour with Elder Dyches of the 70. I will have the opportunity to get a personal interview with him and be apart of some meetings. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from such a spiritually minded individual. We'll start our week in Göteborg tomorrow and then come back to Stockholm later. I am super excited!!
Have a good week everyone! Remember who you are ;)
Äldste Hemmingsen