2012!!!

Nära och Kära,

The holidays are finally over!! I have really enjoyed the holidays, but there is a lot of down time and it just feels weird. We watched a total of 3 movies and part of a football game. We had New Years with the Mattsson Family. The father, Leif, reminds me so much of my Dad its insane!! Especially because the whole time we were there a football game was on. So we saw the first half of the Utah game on Saturday. It was pretty exciting, but we are happy to get back into things. The year 2012 has just begun and I want to declare the happiness in my heart and the happiness I feel to be a missionary of the Sweden, Stockholm mission. In the year 2011, 158 children of God were baptized in all of Sweden. They said it's 30% more than last year. Our goal for 2012 is 250. It is quite exciting to be a part of missionary work in Europe. It is not always easy. That is for sure. But it is SO worth it! 

Eric had more surgery on his feet and will be in the hospital for 6-8 more weeks. We stopped by when 4 of his friends were there. 1 of them, Linda Söderberg, could not stop smiling and staring at us. She was beautiful and something about her emanated a beautiful spirit. She had a light in her eyes. I pray we will meet her again and I can talk to her about the gospel. Eric was in a little more pain because of the surgery, but he is hopeful as always. We reminded him of the power of prayer and left a New Year message.

For our New Year Message, We shared a story about the empty stocking at Christmas time S.Jensons dad shared with her last week. It spoke of the how Christmas is Christ's birthday and we get so focused on giving to each other that we forget to give a present to Christ. Then we would go around and write down a list of things we each personally want to give to Christ for his belated birthday present. It could be reading the Book of Mormon completely through, never missing a single day of church, referring 5 non member friends to the gospel, etc. Christ would really appreciate those gifts. In a sense, these are New Years Resolutions with a direction more on helping God with his purpose of bringing to past the immortality and eternal life of man. We constantly build each other up as we build up ourselves. 

We started meeting with a new inactive member in the ward. Her name is Andrea Dahi. She is simply amazing! I love her already. I felt overwhelmed with love that day as we sat and listened to how hard her life has been with a divorce a year ago and how hard it was for her. She smokes now and is not happy with herself. We gave her the New Year Message after getting to know her for a little bit and her goal is to go back to church and quit smoking. She wants her life back in order and just doesn't know how to do it with 5 kids at home and so much to take care of. She has a testimony of the truth. She just needs the support and motivation. 

We met with Ehsan as well and watched 17 Miracles with him. If you have not seen that movie yet, I highly suggest it. He was able to see the hardships and the reality of the difficulties the pioneers went through on their journey to join the saints in Utah. I loved that these stories were real and made from the journals of those who really traveled across America. I was touched. I felt like I could pray for anything I wanted to after the movie and God would help me with it. It strengthened my faith as well as Ehsan. We talked about the sacrifice and faith those pioneers had to follow what they knew to be true. We invited him to come to church every week and have the faith that God will help him with schooling if he does. It was a wonderful experience.

After having a Christmas dinner with the Baker family last Monday evening, we found a great place to focus and strengthen. All 4 of the children do not have much respect for their amazing loving father who tries hard. They don't respect family rules or missionary rules either. They tried encouraging us to watch movies that were not approved and we insisted on watching Cars 2 instead. I did not enjoy the feeling. It made me very grateful for my family and the love we have for each other and that we respect each other. How do you help someone grow to respect their parents? That is a good question.

Well, Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have a wonderful week and remember to make SMARTER New Years Resolutions. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time manageable, Evaluate, Reevaluate. Set your mind to it. Pray for Heavenly Fathers help and anything is possible. Make goals with him and you will attain them with him.

Thanks for all you guys do!! Guess what!! This Saturday we get calls finding out who gets transferred. I can't wait to see what happens with transfers. I love change!  We technically don't have transfers anymore, but we know there will be some because new missionaries are coming in and old ones are leaving. So I'll let you know next Monday whats up.

Love Syster Sprague

p.s. Hey mom :) the president called and asked how the family was and he says every time he gets hungry he thinks of your cooking. That day when he came to my farewell. He says it left quite and impression.
 (I personally got a big laugh out of the thought of all those blasted meatballs!! We ate left over meatballs for 3 months!!)

S.Juker (dark hair) and S.Jenson and me in front of S.Jukers HUGE birthday/christmas package

All of my christmas presents except for the sweater my mom gave me

The sweater my mom gave me! :) And I'm even on the phone with my mom. I love it mom. Thank you!!!

Lighting the lanterns

Lanterns like in Tangled ,the lanterns were for Mette's mom. It is the day the her mother died. So that was what we did to remember her

 

We found a lost puppy (doesn't happen in Sweden)

Playing apples to apples on New years Eve

Before the fireworks on New Years Eve

Shining shoes! A first actually.. shhh.. I have found I actually love it though.. so right here I'm doing my companions because I ran out of my own. Oh and guess what mom I'm wearing the apron you made me so that I don't ruin my clothes. Thanks for that!! I love it!

That is a spår vagn. That is what we take to go everywhere

 

 

 

That is what we call a Caterpillar bus. They are SUPER long