Monday, July 12, 2010

Summer...love the summer!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been great in Uppsala. It has been really warm all week...which is unusual in Sweden. It's been about 80 degrees all week. I'm grateful for the warmth...but the busses really do need to get some A/C going on. Every time we step onto the bus, it's like walking into a sauna...oh...what a blessing A/C is. :) There really isn't such a thing here. For the most part, there is not A/C in the houses, or buildings, so when it's warm...it's warm no matter where you are. :)

The work has gone well this week. I'm happy, healthy, and continuing to do everything I can to invite others to learn about the gospel and repent. I love the gospel! I'll just share a couple of things that happened this week:

Ok...so I am going to start this by saying that when I got to Uppsala...I checked out the phone, and realized that the previous missionaries had a totally different organization of the phone than the rest of the mission...i.e. NO organization. :) We have had lots of fun throughout the transfer ringing to random phone numbers with no explanation...and asking them if they want to learn about the gospel. I've gotten every response...from already members who live in other parts of Sweden, to people who are totally NOT interested...to a few that said we could call back after summer. Well, with that introduction...one thing that happened last week was topping on the cake. :)

We found a number for a Christopher...who was marked as a TU...or tänk-bara...what is that in english...oh yeah...a potential investigator. We called him up, he was really positive and we set up a time to meet. When we went there, I asked him what his religious background was. In response he said, "I am a member of the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!" I think my response was something like, "What?!?!" Well, to make a long story short, Christopher is what I like to call a mystery member...he was baptized several years ago in Norrköping...my first area, and has moved several times...and his records are somewhere in cyberspace. We were able to teach him the Restoration and then invite him to church. He came! It was a funny thing that happened, but I'm grateful that we are able to have contact with a member and help him to be more active in the church. There's a reason for everything!

We had some really good teaches this week, and we have also had some challenges. One of our investigators who we have now taught the 3rd lesson to (Gospel of Jesus Christ) thought that we were the same as the Swedish Church...there's a lot to review about the Restoration with her...but she has a desire to learn and know....and it helped me to keep the perspective that people are truly "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it". I pray that we will be about to help her see the differences in our church, including the authority from God we have in the Priesthood, and the continued revelation received through the prophet and apostles...not to mention another witness we have of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon. As many of you know...I love to teach...and I continue to learn new ways of approaching teaching situations to best help those we teach.

We have our hard times as missionaries. However, no matter if it's a hard day, or whatever the challenge proves to be, I am continually amazed at the support we receive from the Lord to do His work. I am amazed that we have transfers in another 2 weeks and that I will be starting my last transfer on the mission. I still have much to do and much to learn. I hope you all have a great week. I pray often that all of you will be in good health, and continue to live worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Know that I love and care about you. I know this Church is the Lord's church.

Love,
Sister Suzanne Wood

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