Back To Frederikshavn???
This week has been probably the weirdest yet most amazing weeks of my mission. Like super weird, but fun, and enjoyable, and creepy, and just a mess at times but it's been a really really good experience. So much fun hahahah let's get into it.
New Companion
My companion is from German, his name is Ældste Jaursch and he's just an awesome guy. It's been one of those relationships where I just felt like I could trust him right off the bat. He's a hilarious dude, he's pretty good at English but occasionally he does the funniest things. Just the little things like spelling Cinnamon with a Z and having the sisters harass him, saying everything is "so cute", and he can't pronounce his V's right, so he ends up saying things like wegetables hahaha. He's a really great guy with a strong desire to change, his past just shows what the atonement and what this church can help people do. He's just a stud. We are both SUPER new to Danish, but since I'm older in the mission I kinda have to lead the conversations. It's helped me grow a ton, and I feel like we are gonna learn a ton this transfer because we both want to work hard for the Lord. We both are struggling with contacting because we haven't figured out our own method of contacting yet. But we had a good talk about it, and I think I figured it out a little bit, especially after an awesome contact I had where I connected with them about choir. It's a slow process!
Mor
Imagine this: you've been told about this person, that she's crazy. She calls you her child. You call her your mother, she calls you her child. She is Vietnamese. She is a member of the church. She believes in the Trinity. Annddddd yeah so we went over to her house, she's straight up insane, talking a ton. She's talking the whole time about love and how God and Jesus are the same person. It's fun. She gave me an awesome tie. She's a really sweet old crazy awesome Vietnamese grandma hahaha.
Ken Hall
We didn't get to meet with him (cuz he burnt us three times this week, not his fault though) but I've heard a ton of stories about him (including from his son and people in the branch in the MTC). I'm excited hahah. More to come on that later.
Solvej
One of the sweetest ladies I've ever met. She's not a member but she made us some delicious Danish food, and made little Danish stars with us! It was pretty fun and just super hyggeligt. I really respect her, she's not interested in the church, but she really likes missionaries and is just a really great person. It just goes to show that even if you're not a member of the Church, one can still be good friends with people and help make there 2 year journey a little lighter. She's already helped me a bunch and I'm super thankful for her (and somehow she figured out it was my birthday, she's just so awesome).
Distriktsråd
Well continuing with a strange first week in the new city, I have an awesome, weird district. My companion is district leader, and he decided all of the sudden in the middle of distrikt council we needed some kind of reward if we reach our goals this transfer. So he thought it was a fantastic idea to throw me under a bus, and decided that if we reach the goal they are going to tie me down to a pole and pour cinnamon on me (weird Danish tradition, when someone turns 25 and they're not married this happens). And my companion is going to eat 21 cakes in a day. So I'll tell you how this goes... Hahaha
Måge
We fed the seagulls and they attacked.
Erik
One of my favorite meetings so far with an inactive member. This man was super friendly and just wanted to learn more about the nature of God. We talked about growth and some deeper doctrine, but I realized that the key to it all is Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our advocate and the one that helps us to become more perfect. I've been considering a lot about what is the right approach to talk to people. Do I instantly bring up the Savior? Do I try to get to know them? Some middle ground? But I figured out, and it's hard because it does go a little against our last training from mission conference, but that I should work to become friends with them first. I should have a desire to learn who they are, so I can be more genuine when I tell them that the Gospel is for them. It's worked in other places in my life and I know it will work again. In our first meeting with Erik, we instantly bonded over our love for choir and Eric Whitacre. Its so much more powerful when one is genuine in every action instead of being a robot saying "hi we come from the church, do you want to talk about Jesus?" everyone has there own approach, but I definitely think that being genuine and creating real, lasting friends is what my work is all about.
Fynsk
The language here is Danish but not. They're very sing songy and up and downity, it's fun. Way different then Frederikshavn where everything is slurred and mumbled together. I can actually understand what they say now (of course it takes a little adjusting, but wow is it easier hahhha)
Singing and Skagen
I went up to Skagen for my birthday, had a fantastic little birthday party with my old mission president and the elders in Frederikshavn, and I got to sing at the concert up there. It was a fantastic time and it made me so happy to see everyone from the old branch. Thanks for all thst wished me a happy birthday, it was a great day :))))
Thoughts
Starting off with a scripture again because they are always wiser words than mine, D&C 58:26 "26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."
This week I've thought a lot about my approach to contacting as I've talked about earlier. It's a hard thing, especially when you're two really really new missionaries. I think that's one of my favorite things though, that we can learn together what it means to be a missionary instead of relying on someone else to define it. From this scripture when I read it again, I took away that the Lord will not show you exactly how to do something. He's not going to list out step by step what I should do and how I should do it, but instead, He trusts me. Yes, I'll make mistakes, yes there will be times that I don't know what I'm doing, but He will always give you little tiny corrections to help you do better. I've seen that you have to show the Lord 1. That you want to figure it out 2. That you will try different things so that you can learn which one the Lord wants us to do. I've found through this refining process that it is us that must come up with the tools in order to be successful. Just as the Brother of Jared had to come up with what he wanted the Lord to do, we must come up for specific solutions, pray about them, and try our best to accomplish them, then will the Lord help us with our righteous needs and desires.
Challenge: Think of something you, your family, or someone around you needs. Think of means to achieve that, ask the Lord what you would like him to help with, and I promise he will work his miracles.
Scripture: D&C 50:40-41 "Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;"
Word of the Week: svinger - to swing, but can mean a ton of different things like fluctuate, vibrate, get along with, vary, turn, wield.
Pictures: clear harbor (before the attack), one of the churches, in the church, harbor (after the attack), cool pic of the harbor, another church, me teaching a lesson for the Folke Kirke, a star that we made with Solvej :), æbleskiver that I made for my companion, seal in Skagen (is it a seal?), me and my companion in Skagen.
I love you all! I hope you have an amazing week and have a fantastic Christmas time! It really is the best time of the year :)
Med kærlig hilsen,
Ældste Salisbury
New Companion
My companion is from German, his name is Ældste Jaursch and he's just an awesome guy. It's been one of those relationships where I just felt like I could trust him right off the bat. He's a hilarious dude, he's pretty good at English but occasionally he does the funniest things. Just the little things like spelling Cinnamon with a Z and having the sisters harass him, saying everything is "so cute", and he can't pronounce his V's right, so he ends up saying things like wegetables hahaha. He's a really great guy with a strong desire to change, his past just shows what the atonement and what this church can help people do. He's just a stud. We are both SUPER new to Danish, but since I'm older in the mission I kinda have to lead the conversations. It's helped me grow a ton, and I feel like we are gonna learn a ton this transfer because we both want to work hard for the Lord. We both are struggling with contacting because we haven't figured out our own method of contacting yet. But we had a good talk about it, and I think I figured it out a little bit, especially after an awesome contact I had where I connected with them about choir. It's a slow process!
Mor
Imagine this: you've been told about this person, that she's crazy. She calls you her child. You call her your mother, she calls you her child. She is Vietnamese. She is a member of the church. She believes in the Trinity. Annddddd yeah so we went over to her house, she's straight up insane, talking a ton. She's talking the whole time about love and how God and Jesus are the same person. It's fun. She gave me an awesome tie. She's a really sweet old crazy awesome Vietnamese grandma hahaha.
Ken Hall
We didn't get to meet with him (cuz he burnt us three times this week, not his fault though) but I've heard a ton of stories about him (including from his son and people in the branch in the MTC). I'm excited hahah. More to come on that later.
Solvej
One of the sweetest ladies I've ever met. She's not a member but she made us some delicious Danish food, and made little Danish stars with us! It was pretty fun and just super hyggeligt. I really respect her, she's not interested in the church, but she really likes missionaries and is just a really great person. It just goes to show that even if you're not a member of the Church, one can still be good friends with people and help make there 2 year journey a little lighter. She's already helped me a bunch and I'm super thankful for her (and somehow she figured out it was my birthday, she's just so awesome).
Distriktsråd
Well continuing with a strange first week in the new city, I have an awesome, weird district. My companion is district leader, and he decided all of the sudden in the middle of distrikt council we needed some kind of reward if we reach our goals this transfer. So he thought it was a fantastic idea to throw me under a bus, and decided that if we reach the goal they are going to tie me down to a pole and pour cinnamon on me (weird Danish tradition, when someone turns 25 and they're not married this happens). And my companion is going to eat 21 cakes in a day. So I'll tell you how this goes... Hahaha
Måge
We fed the seagulls and they attacked.
Erik
One of my favorite meetings so far with an inactive member. This man was super friendly and just wanted to learn more about the nature of God. We talked about growth and some deeper doctrine, but I realized that the key to it all is Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our advocate and the one that helps us to become more perfect. I've been considering a lot about what is the right approach to talk to people. Do I instantly bring up the Savior? Do I try to get to know them? Some middle ground? But I figured out, and it's hard because it does go a little against our last training from mission conference, but that I should work to become friends with them first. I should have a desire to learn who they are, so I can be more genuine when I tell them that the Gospel is for them. It's worked in other places in my life and I know it will work again. In our first meeting with Erik, we instantly bonded over our love for choir and Eric Whitacre. Its so much more powerful when one is genuine in every action instead of being a robot saying "hi we come from the church, do you want to talk about Jesus?" everyone has there own approach, but I definitely think that being genuine and creating real, lasting friends is what my work is all about.
Fynsk
The language here is Danish but not. They're very sing songy and up and downity, it's fun. Way different then Frederikshavn where everything is slurred and mumbled together. I can actually understand what they say now (of course it takes a little adjusting, but wow is it easier hahhha)
Singing and Skagen
I went up to Skagen for my birthday, had a fantastic little birthday party with my old mission president and the elders in Frederikshavn, and I got to sing at the concert up there. It was a fantastic time and it made me so happy to see everyone from the old branch. Thanks for all thst wished me a happy birthday, it was a great day :))))
Thoughts
Starting off with a scripture again because they are always wiser words than mine, D&C 58:26 "26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."
This week I've thought a lot about my approach to contacting as I've talked about earlier. It's a hard thing, especially when you're two really really new missionaries. I think that's one of my favorite things though, that we can learn together what it means to be a missionary instead of relying on someone else to define it. From this scripture when I read it again, I took away that the Lord will not show you exactly how to do something. He's not going to list out step by step what I should do and how I should do it, but instead, He trusts me. Yes, I'll make mistakes, yes there will be times that I don't know what I'm doing, but He will always give you little tiny corrections to help you do better. I've seen that you have to show the Lord 1. That you want to figure it out 2. That you will try different things so that you can learn which one the Lord wants us to do. I've found through this refining process that it is us that must come up with the tools in order to be successful. Just as the Brother of Jared had to come up with what he wanted the Lord to do, we must come up for specific solutions, pray about them, and try our best to accomplish them, then will the Lord help us with our righteous needs and desires.
Challenge: Think of something you, your family, or someone around you needs. Think of means to achieve that, ask the Lord what you would like him to help with, and I promise he will work his miracles.
Scripture: D&C 50:40-41 "Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;"
Word of the Week: svinger - to swing, but can mean a ton of different things like fluctuate, vibrate, get along with, vary, turn, wield.
Pictures: clear harbor (before the attack), one of the churches, in the church, harbor (after the attack), cool pic of the harbor, another church, me teaching a lesson for the Folke Kirke, a star that we made with Solvej :), æbleskiver that I made for my companion, seal in Skagen (is it a seal?), me and my companion in Skagen.
I love you all! I hope you have an amazing week and have a fantastic Christmas time! It really is the best time of the year :)
Med kærlig hilsen,
Ældste Salisbury
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