Monday, May 21, 2012

Korv in the rain with laughing fits

Nära och Kära!
 
Alingsås is nice and warm and wonderful! This week we had some amazing teaches with members. I don't know how we had teaches without members now. There is one boy, Viktor that usually comes on one teach with us every week now. He goes on his mission really soon and we know he is going to be awesome! We even role played with him before our teach and exactly what he asked us was the question that our investigator had. It was amazing! We have been working on our teaching and focusing on certain points to make sure things are clear to people. All in trying to answer the why.. for our investigators. So like...why did we need a restoration..? we focus on the apostasy! Or why are we here and why do we need a savior..? the focus is Gods plan and the fall of Adam and Eve. These two points are very important and we have found sometimes are not understood quite right.
 
We have a few really progressive investigators right now, which is exciting. We are going to ask everyone to be baptized this week because the zone leaders asked us too. So we'll see how it goes! Because of this "Summer of 70" they have asked every zone and area to bring in a certian number. So far our zone is doing pretty well. We need 9 more baptized before July 18th and that means every area takes one. We are really hoping for 2 or 3 but you know.. people have agency and its important so we'll see. Can't stop us from asking though! And guess what??? Our old baptismal date, Manal, that moved to Lebanon is coming back in a month! She has been hard to skype so I'm hoping all has been well with her and we hope to pick up where we left off. If not, she will always be dear to me and I know she has changed me for the better and I think we helped her too.
 
Syster Schneiber is amazing! We laugh so much. Sometimes I worry its too much.. or loud laughter or something. So far though it has only helped our work and the members too. They want to be apart of what we are doing. It doesn't feel like there is the ward and then there are missionaries and we don't quite mess. I remember Elder Ritchie, (my Sam), said that thats how it feels sometimes. Like we playing the same sport but were not in the same league or something. I would have to say I have felt that too but now here. I seriously don't want to leave this place or my companion. I just keep thinking the mission has to get worse at some point right??? No I don't think it does. When you are doing the work of the Lord you only recieve joy. True joy!

Sometimes it seems that things are just trying to bombard you and make you have a terrible day. That is what tuesday started out with. All the sunshine left and big dark clouds settled over Alingsås. We were about to head out for the day when Richard (our new amazing investigator) texted us and said.. I cant meet till after maj. My heart sunk! After may?! He had just told us he had all week free. My first thought was.. who in the world has he been talking to or what did he read on the internet.  Then as we were walked outside to get on our bikes Lennarth or other progressing investigator calls and says.. "I dont want to be baptized.. im not convinced about the book of mormon!".. S.Schneiber calmly walked him through and said he didnt have to get baptized nor did we want him to get baptized until he got an answer about the BOM. Would he still be willing to meet until he received an answer. He thought about it and reluctantly answered yes.  Then as we are about to hop on our bikes my bike brakes down. It was at this point where S.Schneiber felt like exploding I just bust up laughing. And then we couldnt stop laughing.  We fixed the bike and headed off on the way. Just incase satan was going to try another trick-- S.Schneiber shouts out something like dont even try. Haha she is such a goof. It was a fabulous day! So when something goes wrong.. Dont let it be the beginning of a bad day. Get rid of it with a nice laugh and smile. It works every time. 

Korv btw means sausage or hot dog. I am really not a fan but they eat it a lot here. We had come home from our District Meeting on thursday and our teach had been cancled. So we had some back up plans and one person that we stopped by was this old woman in the ward.  Her name is Viviann.. and this woman is on top of her missionary game!  Just that sunday Freddy (an old man who had a stroke) came to church and he has an assistant that comes with him. It was a young looking guy and as the meeting was part way through a replacment came for him. As he snuck out to go Viviann got up real fast and caught him right as he was sneaking out the door and invited him to sit next to her to stay for the rest of the meeting :)  He said Nej tack. But that doesnt matter! She invited him!  So we stopped by to say hi and see if there was anything we could do for her. She had just warmed up two hotdogs (Korv) to eat for dinner. We were already quite full from our dinner but she offered us the korv.. and so we polietly started to eat them.  We thought okej.. we can force down these two and then hopefully that is all we will have to eat... Viviann then warmed up 5 more!! and then cut them up and offered them to us. Oh my goodness.. She probably ate one korv and we both had the other four. When you are already full and have just ate a korv and then are asked to force down another two.. It might not sound like much to you.. But it hurt! These are LONG HOT DOGS! ugg. But it was worth it! because she gave us a referal at the end! :)  I love old people. 

This week was also amazing because we really worked on having members at our teaches. Friday was the big highlight! We had three lessons set up with members! We were super excited. And with each lesson.. I was so grateful we had a member there. Even though I can speak swedish.. I still cant always explain everything perfectly..  My favorite teach was with Ulf and Anne Marie. Ulf is married to Anne Marie.. I think I have talked about him before. But he is awesome. We sat down to eat and he brought up the church conversation. He used to have a problem with drinking.. but he is under control of it now and still likes to drink his beer on the weekends. We think this is part of the problem for him not really wanting to progress and learn more. He told us he isnt open again and that it wont work trying to talk to some one who isnt open. We totally agreed with him.. which i think threw him off. So when we started out lesson we just said "ok, so we have a lesson for you Anne Marie!" and Ulf smiled and jumped right into the discussion. He is making some progress even if it is slow.  I really do love this man. He is so soft and kind and yet looks a little scary on the outside. We took pictures afterwards so Ill send you some. 
 
Thanks a million for all you do. I don't know that you get the recognition you do for me mom but I appreciate you a ton. My companion thinks your just as funny as I do. I got the "compression sleeves for the lower leg" btw and they are great so far.
Love Syster Sprague
 
From: Dena: (I sent her a pair of "calf sleeves" for shin splints.  Customs opened the package to view the contents... I told her it was probably because they thought "calf sleeves" had something to do with "cows"  as in "bovine"!  I should have labeled them as "compression sleeves for the lower leg" instead!) 
 
Ps. Pics coming soon!

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