Midsommer

This was a good week in Sweden for Aldste Haddon; it was Midsommer which means just how it sounds "MidSummer". All the Swedes get together and dance around a poll type thing and celebrate summer. All of the missionaries in Sweden were invited to attend the same event. Aldste Haddon was in charge of putting the pole together and even started a good old fashioned game of American Football. He said that all of the Swedes were looking at them like they were totally crazy, and only 4 of the elders had played football before so it was a little crazy but it was a lot of fun.

They also found a tiny little frog and decided it would be very funny to come up to Sister Newell (Mission President's wife) with it hidden and surprise her with the little fella. They got all ready, and had the frog hidden and went up to her to strike up a conversation. They then said they had something for her and once she said oh what is it, they felt they had the perfect invitation to introduce her and the frog. As they opened their hands, she just started laughing and said:

"I have 4 boys, nothing like that will ever phase me!

So, the prank of the day was a bit of a bust, but they had fun anyway.

On a more spiritual note, they have been working with a family from China who was very wealthy there and came to Sweden to grow their business. They invested all of their money into their restaurant here but their business was very poor and they began to be very worried that they would soon loose everything and have to move back to China with almost nothing left. Knowing their concern and how much this meant to the family, Aldste Haddon and his companion gave the mother a blessing. They didn't see the family for about a week, but when they returned to the restaurant, it was full for the first time and has remained full (he sent pictures) He testifies that Heavenly Father knows us and our needs and when we ask of Him in faith and real intent, we will be blessed.

This week Aldste Haddon got yet another new companion and it sounds like that is going well so far!

Thank you for reading about Aldste Haddon and for your support!

A Service Filled Week

Aldste Haddon said that their week has been full of service projects this week which has been great. One of the days, they helped a new convert family chop wood in the forest to build a house and afterwards they went to the ocean to have a natural organic meal. It was "grassy" but delicious. He said it then started raining and the family went crazy dancing in the rain and got even more excited when the double rainbow showed up; he said they quickly took that opportunity to bow out!

They are also working with a young football (soccer) player who is getting very close to baptism. He said that he always invites all of his African friends to come hear the "White Guys" or "Jesus Boys"! He's very hopeful and excited to be working with this young man.

Aldste Haddon also got to give a talk in sacrament meeting, he said it was pretty tricky to speak in front of 100 native Swedes in their native language, but he must have done OK! No complaints that we know of!

As always, Aldste Haddon wants to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and support!



A Visit From Elder Ballard

This week was the mission wide conference, President Monson was planned to attend but because of the loss of his wife and his own health issues, he sent Elder Ballard and Aldste Haddon said he learned so much from him...

 

Because Aldste Haddon is in the office, he had to wake up at 2 AM to help prepare for the conference he had to help set up the chapel and make sure all of the missionaries were able to find the location and arrive on time. He was standing in the foyer when Elder Ballard walked in with a bunch of other general authorities. He got to shake all of their hands and listen to the messages they shared, he said the spirit was unbelievable. He said that Elder Ballard taught them so much about missionary work and they are even more excited to teach the gospel.

 

After the fantastic conference, they were able to go on splits with other Elders, he was able to find his best buddies from the MTC Faylor and Allsop and go on splits with them which was AWESOME. While the three of them were out, this lady in a top hat and tights who was likely on something too came up and tried to full on kiss each of them and they had to fight her off. When they told her no thank you, she yelled at them saying they needed a real woman! They laughed, one of those mission stories that will go down in the books!

 

He also got to see some ward members from his last area which was awesome...

 

This is the end of his email: "But, the week was great and thank goodness the craziness is finally over! I felt that it is exactly what this mission needed, and it was exactly what I needed. I am going to have a lot of changes in the next month and I didn’t honestly think I could do them or what I needed to do. This conference and the time I served with my old MTC friends, helped me realize that no matter how crazy of things president needs me to do, I can do them with the Lords help. I know that Jesus Christ lives and he loves every single one of you. I know that for a moment he thought of everyone one of us personally in the Garden of Gethsemane. He loves you and I love you all thank you for the support and hope to hear from you all soon."

Broken Hands, Sleepless Nights and The Funeral

Aldste Haddon has had a pretty crazy week, he said he got a total of 20 hours of sleep the entire week! They had a mission tour by President Richards which he said was awesome and very inspiring, but he got to get the chapels ready for his visit...

 

"On Thursday night, we were putting together this one Chapel about an hour drive away. It’s about 1 AM, and I am super exhausted, but we finally finish. I go to hop in the back of the van and I stick my hand in the side of the van for support and one of this sisters, we were giving a ride home, slams the front door. My hand just magically happened to be there. I hear the slam and the click of the door locking. I then asked the sister as nicely as I possibly could, “Will you please open your door.”

She replied, “Why?” I said, ”Because my hand is still in the door.”

She screamed open the door my hand is cut up bleeding a little and super swollen. We go to the ER but of course “Socialism,” I couldn’t get in until 5 in the morning so we left around 4 and went to sleep. Because we needed to be up by 6 the next day for mission tour! But my hand it actually not to bad now, just a little tender ha."

 

Saturday was the funeral of the young man who was serving in Provo on a mission but who is from Sweden. Aldste Haddon was a pall bearer, it was difficult with the broken hand but worth it. He said it was the first time they have ever filed the Stake Center in Sweden, and the spirit was so strong. The family shared stories about Jeffery and their testimonies of the gospel and that they knew they would still see their son and brother again. Ty was most touched by what the father said:

 

"“For you members, this cause my son died for, and it is worth it. For you that are not of this faith, find out for yourself what he stood for, and died for.”

Even though he lost his son, he was still standing for what they all believed in. Even at the worst of times, they still stood for what they believed in. We carried the casket out, it was a little hard with my hand but I managed. I gave them a big hug from you all and they so deeply appreciate the prayers."

Ty ended his email saying:

"Thank you all for all that you do. I hope you can keep them in your prayers and think of the amazing examples they are. They know that God lives, that he loves them and that he loves Jeffery. They knew that Christ died for them and their son so he can live again. They knew that he died for a cause worth dying for.  They knew they would see him again. I know that as well. I love you all so very much and don’t you forget that. Thank you for everything."

 

 

Temple pics, sorry they wouldn't turn this time...not sure why