First Week of No email :( UPDATE

So far, we haven't heard from Ty (as of right now is 4pm in Sweden so there is still time) We of course are sad, but there's still time so I will update the blog later today if an email comes in!

No new is good news...right?!

***We just got word that Pday is on Wednesday this week so check back for the updates then!***



Life in the Mission Office

We were finally able to nail down some details about his mission home job from Aldste Haddon! Thank goodness! He said they wake up at 6 and work out, then do studies and get ready until about 10 and then he goes to the office to do work (there are 2 secretaries and 3 aps and they all live in an apartment above the mission office) He works with the secretaries in the morning and then in the afternoon and evening he goes out with this AP companion to teach, then he  comes back and does paperwork and so it's pretty late before they're able to get to bed but as he says, someone's gotta do it!

 

This week they have been teaching a lot of people and have even set a baptismal date with an investigator. They're just praying that he keeps it and they're able to have a baptism. Their tag line is:

"Get the DOP!" (Dop meaning baptisms!)

 

This week they were meeting a couple from Sweden preparing to serve a mission and they have a son with down syndrome who Ty loves! The other day he was talking to Ty while the AP was showing the couple around and the boy said: "people in my area don't do the baptism often." So Ty explained to him that it's hard to baptize in Sweden but they're trying and working hard. So he got really close to Ty and whispered: "I want to baptize." and Ty said he just shook his head yes but he doesn't think he heard him because the young man took a deep breath, closed his eyes and with all the force he could muster said: "I WANT TO BAPTIZE!!" Then, Ty's companion came in and yelled "Ya me too!" Now they want to take him around the mission to get the elders pumped up to do missionary work because his enthusiasm is infectious!

 

As always, Aldste Haddon wants to thank everyone for your prayers, love and support as he's serving in Sweden! He can feel your strength and appreciates all everyone is doing to help him be the best missionary he can!

 

 

Heavy Lifting in the Mission Office

This is Aldste Haddon's first week in Stockholm and it sounds like it has gone pretty well. Since arriving there on Wednesday, he said he has carried 4000 Books of Mormon from the bottom floor to the top floor, he says he's not very good with computers but he's good at lifting so that must be why he's there. In fact, I think he is probably in 7th heaven because they have a weight bench there, and he's been able to lift it with all of the weights ("only" 275lbs. but it has earned him the reputation of the heavy lifter) He said that he has two companions, one who is in the office all day who is from Sweden and is excellent with computers and gaming, and LOVE to tell Ty all about it! And, the other is from Finland but went to a Swedish school growing up so he speaks Swedish VERY well. He said that he is AWESOME and the assistant to the president. They go out and teach  from 2-9pm after the office work is completed. Aldste Haddon also said that his AP comp. was driving down the road the other day and just slammed on his breaks and jumped out of the car, kinda freaked Ty out at first but then he handed their food to a homeless man. He said it was a good experience but still fun and crazy because of the way the companion did it!

Stockholm is the largest city in Sweden so it has been an adjustment to be there after being in a smaller town but he is enjoying the experience so far!
Also, if you know Kinzi Ricks and want to follow her mission, her blog is: www.sisterkinziricks.blogspot.com

 

Here's a video he sent home, he said it's WAY higher than it looks!

 

 Zone Conference

 Potty Stop on the Street...interesting

 



Aldste Haddon's First Transfer

This week has been a little rough in Kungsbacka. They've had to start completely fresh trying to find new people, and with a lot of doors slammed in their faces, they weren't exactly as successful as they had hoped to be. They are still very close with the ward and each other though, and had planned to play another football game this Friday with the zone and ward members when he got a phone call from....dun dun dun... the mission president.

He asked that they put the phone on speaker because he had some important information about upcoming transfers. As the President began to talk, he told Tyson's companion that he would be transferred to a new area to train some of the 32 new missionaries they got last transfer (who have been living in a hotel since they arrived, Sweden doesn't have enough apartments for their own people, let alone for the missionaries so it has been a HUGE struggle to find housing for all of these new elders and sisters). As the mission president was telling his companion about the transfer, Ty began to think that he was going to be able to stay where he was. He was getting excited to be able to keep working with the people he has come to love in the past 9 weeks and thought he had dodged the transfer bullet one more time. But then the mission president said 'Aldste Haddon, you'll be transferring to Stockholm to the mission home to be a secretary. I'll be seeing you everyday. See you on Wednesday.' He said his heart dropped because he was really hoping to stay in the city he has come to love, but there must be a reason he's been called to serve in the mission home. Not to mention, now he'll get all of his mail express! So start sending letters I guess, in the past they have taken a VERY long time to get to him!

He also said conference was an amazing experience. They were only able to watch a couple of sessions (reason unknown to us) but he looks forward to catching up on all of the rest of it. He said it is such a blessing to hear from the prophet of God, and to listen to someone who speaks with God directly, it's amazing!

So, it's off to the mission home! We'll have to see what exciting adventures take place as the Lord's Secretary!

Mario and a turtle thing Ty drew (weirdo)

Tyler the ward mission leader from San Diego, can't speak Swedish either so they get along well! (He drew the super man!)



 Superman played by "Tyson Danger Haddon"

 A comic book his friend Sam from Stansbury (serving in Oregon) sent Ty

 A king on a horse, Ty plans to have this statue of him someday

Ward members playing innabandy

Dop means baptism I guess...

 Max, an awesome young adult in the ward

 



Easter in Sweden

Aldste Haddon has a had a pretty good week in Sweden, the first thing he made sure to mention in his email this week was that he was able to play American football on Pday which, knowing him, I'm sure he has missed!

 

He said that is favorite experience this week was on pday, the went to an Easter message with a friend who is planning on leaving Sweden to serve a mission himself and an investigator. Part of the way through the meeting, the friend got up and left and appeared to be very upset. Aldste Haddon followed him out of the room to see what was the matter, he said that he was worried about leaving for his mission and leaving his friends and moments like that behind. Aldste Haddon said he told him that he has missed things at home since he has left but he wouldn't trade his mission for anything, and that it is worth the sacrifices. Around that same time, the investigator they had brought came out into the hall upset. He said he didn't understand how they could say that Christ suffered more than anyone can suffer because he had been through so much in his life he just couldn't believe that Christ really could have gone through more than any other human being. Aldste Haddon said that he explained to him that it was just about the suffering, but also the atonement and that no matter what happens, we are never alone and that because of the atonement, Christ knows all that you have suffered and gone through. He said the spirit was extremely strong, and the investigator left. After that, Aldste Haddon's friend turned to him and said after that he knows that he it is right for him to serve a mission. He said he was an amazing experience and he feels so happy to be able to serve a mission.

 

Thank you for all of your love and support! It sounds like Aldste Haddon is doing wonderful!

 

 

Also, Tanner's sister Kinzi entered the MTC last Wednesday, to serve a mission in Scotland/Ireland. If you would like to follow her mission, her blog address is:

 

www.SisterKinziRicks.blogspot.com