Nearer, My God to Thee (Tuesday, June 30)

Kära Familj och Vänner,

This week in Sweden has been a good one. It has been super warm and humid all week, and I think I will end up sweating to death. We have been busy this week, and had success meeting with investigators, and meeting new people to teach. I guess I will highlight the couple of really major things that happened this week.

This last Wednesday we had the most busy schedule we have had since I have been here. We had 4 appts...and they all went through. We met with a less active member and 3 investigators throughout the day, which was totally awesome. We were able to teach them, and they all showed up, and it was awesome. It was so nice to have actual places to be and people to teach. We have spent much of the last 6 weeks finding people, so it was nice to have a chance to teach this last week.

On Friday, we also had many things to do, and one of them was to have waffles with two of the old men in the ward here in Norrköping. They were so friendly, and we could tell that they were thrilled to buy us a waffle. That same day we met with Harri. I know I have talked about him before, but normally, he has cancelled on us, so we hadn't met for the last 3 weeks. Well, we met with him on Friday evening. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation, and it went well. He said some very interesting things. We are not sure if he is prepared to keep commitments yet, but he knows that the things we tell him are the truth. He is a little nervous about praying about the prophet Joseph Smith, because he in a way thinks that believing in a prophet will take away from the faith and focus he has on God and Jesus Christ. I expressed to him that the reality of Joseph Smith as a prophet adds to our faith in Christ. It is a witness of Christ's love for His children that we can have guidance from a prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is NOT about Joseph Smith, but is a witness of Christ. I genuinely hope he reads in the Book of Mormon and prays about it's truthfulness. I know that the Book of Mormon brings us closer to Christ and teaches us how we can show our love and obedience to the Savior by following it and the Bibles teachings.

I would have to say that the craziest part of the week was Sunday. It was on Tuesday that things got interesting. We had a Ward Council meeting, and then went home and planned. Well about ten minutes after we got home, we got a phone call. It was a member of the Bishopric who wanted to speak to me. I talked to him, and he asked if I would give a talk in church this last Sunday. I said sure. He then preceded to tell me the talk would be on Prayer...that was fine by me. Then I asked how long I would be giving my first Swedish talk for....he told me 20 MINUTES....I started to panic a little. I asked him if he was sure, and that I thought that was quite a lot of time. He said he was sure, and I accepted the assignment.

I hung up the phone and totally freaked out! I was not scared about giving a talk in Swedish, but a 20 minute talk is quite a while, and I don't even know if I've given a 20 minute talk in English THAT many times...so anyway, I spent my Language Study the rest of the week preparing my talk for Sunday. All of you that know me, know that I am not really a very nervous person...well you should have all seen me sitting on the stand Sunday morning. We also had 2 investigators who came to church on Sunday.

To finish this story, I stood up and I gave my 20 minute talk and it went well. I know the Spirit was present to help me diliver that talk, and that the ward felt the Spirit. I felt unqualified, and unsure, but I did it, and it went really well. I know the Lord helps us as we prepare and turn to Him for help to do the things we are called to do.

I have had a good week. Yesterday we helped an inactive member move from one apt. to another, and we had a crazy time with that. This woman Carola lived on the 3rd floor of one building and moved to the 3rd floor of another. I will just say that we climbed up and down A LOT of stairs yesterday. It was great to help, and know that she appreciated so much that we made the trip to help her.

I know that this work is the work of God on the earth. I know that it has very little to do with me. As I follow the Spirit, I am led as to what to do and what to say. I am trying to keep myself worthy all the time to have the companionship of the Spirit because without it, I know I can not to anything to convince men and women of the Lord's love for them. I am becoming more and more bold with my testimony. I absolutely have no doubt about the fact that Christ's church exists today and that we all can come closer to him as we follow His example.

I hope you all know how much I love you, miss you, and pray for you. I know that the Lord blesses all of His children. I also know that we all have trials that are difficult and hard to go through. More than anything I know that the Lord is aware of us and as we pray sincerely and with meaning behind our words, and as we act in a way to show that we are willing to live and follow Christ, that our prayers will be answered and that we are God's children. I hope you all have a great week.

Med vänliga hälsningar,

Syster Suzanne Wood

P.S. For Swedish word of the week, I have chosen two Swedish words...they are POJKE and FLICKA. POJKE is boy...like a little boy and FLICKA is a little girl. I choose those two words because I found out today that I will be an aunt today. Min syster ska få en flicka. YAY!!! I am totally excited.