December 3, 2018 Fencing with Gardar

Fencing

On Thursday we got to try fencing! Now I've done a lot of fencing before, that is, building and repairing fences, but this was the kind with swords and masks. The sisters are teaching a man named Gardar, who's a fencing instructor, so he offered to host an activity for the young adults in the branch. Gardar is absolutely amazing, he comes to church every week and is even in the branch choir. To be honest, I thought he was a member for my first two weeks here in Umeå... Fencing was one of the coolest things I've ever done, but while I did okay against the other missionaries, I stood no chance when it came to fencing with Gardar. I had no idea a 50 year old man could move that fast...

Speaking of cool guys, we have a senior couple who just returned from the temple in Stockholm, and they're spiritual powerhouses! They came with us on a lesson this week, and the testimony they shared was incredible. On top of that, his name is Torbjörn (prounounced Tor-byearn), which is quite possibly the coolest name ever. Tor=Thor and Björn=Bear.

On Saturday we got to kick off Light the World by participating in the world-wide day of service! A member has a cousin who was moving across town, so we were able to help them together with several members and a few investigators! We were glad to have something to do, because it's pretty difficult to find service projects in Sweden. People here are really helpful, so they don't like to accept help, and the state takes care of pretty much everything else, so it's tough to find ways to serve in the community. They're also suspicious of church groups, so if you do find service, it is just as a "good group of friends". It was awesome to have a service project on Saturday, and it definitely helped usher in the Christmas spirit!

As we've been sharing Light the World with the people here in Umeå, I've had some time to reflect on the life of service the Savior lived. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, he reached out to serve and lift others. As Matthew described, "he cast out the [evil] spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17) Each sickness and infirmity He healed then, and continues to heal today, were borne personally by Him. I am humbled to know that a God, the very creator of the world, would allow himself to be born in the most humble of circumstances and subject himself to the wickedness of the world. Yet despite all this, He did it for "the joy that was set before him" (Hebrews 12:2). He finds great joy, perfect joy, in helping us and promises the same if we will head his call to follow him. I encourage all to do so this Christmas season by participating in Light the World (lighttheworld.org) and giving has he gave. I add my witness that we will be filled with the joy of Christ and come closer to Him as we do so.

Äldste Sirrine

Dinner with Shahin, Shoku, and Artin. 

We had carrot juice for dessert :)