Dream Team

Hello!!!!

The quote of the week goes to our new dear and beloved Mission President, President Beckstrand, ”Well, look on the bright side, if we mess up we'll all go home together!”

This week has been an interesting one. On Monday night, we were able to pick up the Beckstrands. I was absolutely nervous, I had thought that there is no way that the Beckstrands could be as loving or as spiritual as the Newells. I thought it was going to be a disaster! That was until we saw them walk out of those terminal gates. As soon as we shook their hands and welcomed them to Sweden, I just knew that they were called to be our Missionary Leadership. It just felt completely right, and they are absolutely fantastic.

On Tuesday-Wednesday something magical happened here in Täby, "The Dream Team" was an assembled again. Elder Haddon and Elder Allsop, hit the streets again showing the streets of Stockholm what we are made of. We were able to get 2 new investigators, teach several lessons, and have a dang good time doing it.

After, our exchanges Allsop had set up and appointment with one of my first converts here in Sweden. I was able to go back with him to the city of Södertälje and actually get to visit and teach Lennart! I was able to find
out that he is getting ready at his year mark to go to the temple for
himself. I was so happy to learn that news and I will be able to be there
for that which is incredible. Getting to see him progress in the gospel and endure to the end is what it is all about.

Thursday through Friday, we had been traveling all over the place to give the chance for all of the missionaries over Sweden to get to meet President and Sister Beckstrand. It took a lot of planning and work but it was defiantly worth it. We had two large conferences, one in Göteborg and the other in Stockholm. Where they were able to explain a little bit who they are and what their vision is with the Sweden Stockholm Mission.

Saturday, I had a fantastic experience. We were playing football (European Style) with the ward, people brought friends who weren't members and just had a good time and did some missionary work.

After, a couple of us went to
fill up our water bottles. As we started to go over to where the water
spout was, I saw a man playing basketball by himself. I had the strongest feeling ever that I needed to go talk to him maybe just play around with him a bit.  As I did that, I told him I was from the US, and he switched to English. He was from Central Africa, and his name was Jeremie. He asked why I was here in Sweden, I told him I am a missionary for our Church. His face
started to glow, he said and I quote, “This morning I prayed and after told
my 4 year old son, we need to find a church. My son told me “we play basket first.” Now I am here, and I know God has sent you here to get me to come back to church. ”

I was shocked, I don’t believe I had ever gotten that response from someone after I told them I was a missionary. He was able to come to church with his cute little 4 year old. He loves it and is going to be getting baptized in 3 weeks on the 26th of July. Not only that he is going to be invitinghis family and friends, to come and hear the message.

There are no words that can describe how amazing missionary work can be. When we just go out with the guidance of the Spirit and do everything in our power to listen and to follow those promptings, the Lord will use us as tools to help His work go forward.

I love this work, I love Sweden, and I love you all.

(Jag älskar detta verk, jag älskar detta land, och älskar er alla.)

Äldste Haddon