  |
| We had an incredibly thick fog that froze and left some crazy ice crystals everywhere |
 |
| Julgran Plundring |
With it being mid January you might be able to imagine my surprise when we walked into the town square on Saturday to find Santa Claus, several of them, in fact, along with a large crowd gathered around the Christmas tree and Christmas music. I was fairly certain Christmas was already over, but we definitely checked the calendar just to make sure... Not wanting to waste any excuse to talk to people we got to work investigating what it was all about (and sharing the gospel with all the unsuspecting bystanders as we did so). What we discovered is that it was 21 days after Christmas Eve, so it was time for Julgran Plundring (Christmas tree plundering). This is a tradition here in Sweden where the kids dance around the Christmas tree to "dance Christmas out" and then strip everything off the tree and put it away. Honestly this seems like a great idea, and I for one would have been a whole lot more excited to put Christmas decorations away as a kid if it was a national holiday...
Last Sunday all the members and missionaries in Sweden participated in a nationwide fast for missionary work. The Lord's people have often united in mighty fasting and prayer, and the results
 |
The river may be frozen,
but I have yet to see someone ice fishing...
|
have always been miraculous. I'm here to tell you that the Lord is already answering our prayers and blessing the work here in Sweden according to the faith the members and missionaries have shown. This week we had a family, the Newells, move into our branch here in Eskilstuna! Sister Newell grew up here in Sweden but went to BYU, and Brother Newell grew up in Utah and then served his mission in Sweden at the same time Sister Newell was in the States. After his mission they somehow met and got married, and they now have four daughters between the ages of 6 and 12. They moved here from Provo, where they had lived for a year and half, but before that they lived in Sweden where he was a branch president. We got to help them move in and set up their apartment, and it was incredible to watch them move to Sweden with only one suitcase each and the faith that the Lord wanted them to move here... Having another family in the branch has brought excitement, strength, and friendship which has been a wonderful blessing.
Another way the Lord has been preparing to answer such mighty prayer and fasting is through our investigator Katerin. We have been teaching her ever since Äldste Wilkinson and I found her back at the end of October, and she is super excited for her baptism which will be February 10. The Lord has truly prepared her and to see a baptism just one month after a fast for missionary work is pretty incredible. I am continually amazed by her faith and willingness to follow the commandments of the Lord, and as we recently taught her about the Word of Wisdom she completely gave up coffee and tea because she felt the spirit confirm to her that the Word of Wisdom was truly given through a prophet of God.
It has been incredible to watch the Lord answer our prayers through both large and small means. As I have thought about our schedule since last Sunday I have seen an increase in small opportunities and positive people we have met. The work is going well, and we have been blessed with many opportunities this week as we have diligently labored to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Äldste Sirrine
 |
| Our makeshift ping pong table at the church |
