June 17, 2019 My first Swedish Sunburn

Helping at the farm. 

We were moving these stone tiles and decided to have some fun with the kids

You might be wondering, "What's a Swedish sunburn?". It's nothing more than getting sunburned while in Sweden, but the fact that it's the first time that's happened in two years makes it a pretty special occasion for me. We spent the day on Saturday helping a member at his farm, and the sun decided to dodge any wisp of white in the sky you might even dare to call a cloud, so we all got a little red. It was a lot of fun though, and it felt good to get a little muddy and help them clean up the farm a bit. They have two little girls and just had a baby a couple months ago, so it makes it a little hard for both parents to be out working, and the perfect opportunity for us to help out a little.

We also had a neat opportunity to help one of the older members in our branch cut down their hedge this week. Her neighbor was the one doing it, but we got go over and lend a helping hand. Her

Cutting down the hedge

neighbor isn't a member, but as we sat and talked afterwords he said that he wants to come to church with us sometime. We're praying he does :) It would obviously be a great blessing in his life, but it would also be a great strength and blessing in the life of the member who does everything she can to serve others and build a "Zion" where she lives.

It's been a bit of an unusual week filled with so many opportunities to serve, and I'm grateful for the each of them and the opportunity we've had to follow the Savior's example in helping and lifting others.

Here's a thought I had this week while studying. In Mosiah 24, the people of Alma are in bondage and under sever persecution. Their burdens felt almost too heavy to bear, so they poured out their hearts to God in prayer. "And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: ... I will also ease the

Helping a member move

burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24:13-16)

What stood out to me is that they acted in faith by submitting cheerfully and patiently to the will of the Lord, even if it isn't what they had expected or even wanted, because they had unshaken faith that He would truly keep his promise to make their burdens light and eventually, in his own time, deliver them from bondage. If they can't feel the burden, why would they choose to be unhappy? If we honestly believe that the Lord will strengthen us to make our burdens seem light, even so that we "cannot feel them upon [our] backs", then we will gladly submit to the will of the Lord.

Now I want to leave you with the same question that came to my mind and softened my heart this week.

"Do I have the faith to be happy?"

Äldste Sirrine