LAST EMAILS!!!

We CANNOT believe that our missionary will be home on Tuesday! We are so thankful for your love and support for him during these two years! He has learned and grown leaps and bounds and he's such an amazing blessing to us. We just hope he gets on the plane home, he loves Sweden so much it's going to be hard for him to leave.

He will be speaking in the Benson Mill Ward on Sunday November 30th at 2:45pm, 410 Benson Rd. In Stansbury. Feel free to join us. If you have not attended a service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  click here to learn about what to expect.

11/17 e-mail:

Hi everybodies!

This is going to be my second to last email, gosh that is crazy. The quote
comes from our dear friend Zixiang while he was teaching us about the Plan
of Salvation.

Me: "Why do we come to the earth Elder Hu?"

Zixiang: "*Because God say, YOU come to da Earth*." (Smiling with a big old
grin on his face.) We have been going over the lessons again with him, then
giving him the shot to teach us! He is a stud. (See picture.)

Speaking of our two Chinese friends, we were able to make our way up with
them and several members of the ward to the temple and got to do temple
baptisms with them. They absolutely loved it. We had a ward member with us
the whole time who speaks Chinese and was helping them and it was just a
wonderful time.We are going to work with them to get there family history
done so that they can take names themselves next time to the temple.

Another amazing thing happened with them, was that the government has found
them a new apartment. They lived in a one room apartment with a four person
family for the last long time now. But now with the help of the ward, in
moving, we got them moved into a beautiful apartment, 4 times bigger than
the one they had. Many member donated furniture and helped support them in
many other ways. They were so absolutely happy with all of the support and
love they got from the ward. Zixiang was so happy running back and forth
putting things in to his new apartment. At the end of the day he came up to
me and said quietly in my ear, “*I get my own room!”*

It helped me realized how blessed I have been in my life and helped me to
be humble. This little family has had this apartment for 2 years and they
had never whined about their situation. They are just such a wonderful
example to us all.

            This week we had just got down and worked hard, we had 3
different exchanges. 3 days in a row. I first was with an awesome Fin,
named Elder Noso. We worked hard in Stockholm. Had an excellent experience
with him. He is a convert, and just a wonderful missionary after being with
him for one day, I was pretty exhausted. There is just something about
Fins... they are just a different breed.

            The next day I got to go to Södertälje, with my main man Elder
Faylor!!! He’s the best, so we got down and dirty and did all the fun stuff
off missionary work, like contacting knocking, you name it. It was just
nice to be with a great friend again and do some missionary work.

            Lastly I took another elder with me to my home turf in Täby,
Elder Johnson. We did some good things visited a lot of people, we were
just busy running to and fro. But we got some fantastic things rolling for
the next Assistant taking my spot.

            Man, I don’t know what to say more. Working as hard as I can
till the day I die. This last week will be crazy in the span of 5 days we
have 9 meals…… so I probably will be gaining some major weight this week.

            The Church will be rolling out an amazing Christmas program for
missionary work, so my last job in the office, is to make sure that we
figure out how we can use that in the best way in *our mission*. But the
Church is going all out, with social media and with advertising, “He is the
Gift.” It is going to be great so everyone be ready for that to roll out
mid-December.

Love you all and I just want to say I fly in at 7:04 PM, Salt Lake
International Airport on the 25th. You are all super welcome to come and
see me! I would love that, the more the merrier! (Oh and my last p-day will
be this Friday, so my last time to write from the mission field will be
then. So if you want to send your last email… varsågod!)

Love,

Elder Haddon

11/22 e-mail:
Dear Friends and Family,

The VERY last quote of the week goes to my dear friend Lennart Nyblom the
last time I will get to visit him, "Det är du snart...."("That will be you
soon....") ((His TV is playing this young couple kissing.))

That crazy old sailor, I love that man so much. He is doing so well! I was
able to spend one last night with that wonderful man. I am so thankful for
him and many others I love in this wonderful land.

This week has definitely just cruised on by. Monday we had P-day, Tuesday
picking up some couple missionaries, Wednesday picked up a Full-Time Elder,
Thursday we trained our last Mission Leadership Conference, and Friday
temple trip.

On Monday, we actually just had a very relaxing P-day, we did all we needed
to do and then just relaxed and layed around a bit. We knew this week was
going to be rough so we wanted to get rested. But of course we had to end
it short with an office meeting. But to finish off the night we were able
to go visit one of my favorite member families in Sweden. Their son had
just left on his mission, so we had a lot of fun helping him prepare for
it. They had a friend from China with them as well so we were able to teach
her and say our last goodbyes. (And hopefully the friend will be at church
on Sunday.)

On Tuesday, after picking up 2 couples and get them situated, we were able
to visit some investigators and less- active members. One of which was a
recent reactivated member in Gubbängen named Emma! She asked before I left
if I could give her a blessing, so we went there for a few minutes and I
was able to do that. It was just so apparent in the blessing how much her
Heavenly Father loved her. She has so much hardships in her life with her
taking care of her handicapped brother. He can be a handful, but no matter
what she always loves him and is patient with him. I can just see how in
Heaven her brother walking up to her and thanking her for all of the
wonderful service she rendered. So that was another goodbye that was
difficult.

On Wednesday, picked up Elder Svensson, a new missionary. That was very
interesting because he is Swedish and I have taught with him before back
when he wasn’t a missionary. Another interesting thing was he is brothers
to one my past companions…. Elder Svensson. Haha so that was cool to see
him and really get a good feeling that the mission is going to be kept in
good hands.

On Thursday, We had MLC, (Mission Leadership Council,) but of course I
pulled and Elder Haddon and messed that whole thing up. (So I thought.) We
were supposed to have it in the Täby chapel and I had booked the chapel
way, way, way in advance…. But we decided to change it to the next day, so
I forgot to call. Long story short I get a call from the bishop saying, I
cannot use the chapel it is getting its floor waxed! That news would have
been great to know earlier… not 2 hours before the conference.

But in the end it turned out fantastic to be honest. We had it at the
mission home and it was just much more of a home feeling. It was very hard
from the get-go to get it going because President stood me up…. Made fun of
me, and then thanked me, for the service I had rendered in the last 8
months as an assistant. “*I just want to say I didn’t pick him, I inherited
him… But I know that it was inspired because not only did I inherit an
assistant, but I inherited a son.* ” Coach (what I call him,) sometimes can
be a little bit nicer than I deserve.  I will miss them very much.

The hardest part after the training as we were wrapping it up, what we had
taught, I got my Parent’s genes and just started to tear up…. Cry I’ll be
honest I was crying, as I was baring my testimony. (Thanks mom and dad…)
That is when I finally realized I won’t be doing this anymore. Gosh that
was tough to swallow.

And lastly Friday, We were able to go as a group to the temple. That was
probably the hardest thing for me because it became very real, very
quickly. I had dropped off so many groups to the temple, and always had the
thought, of the next appointment I will have, or where I am going to go
contacting. But this time it was my turn to be dropped off for my last
visit to the Stockholm Temple.

I just want to finish this off with my testimony and expressing my
gratitude for my mission. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, I would
have rather done the last two years. If I was to be asked to do this my
whole life, I would. There is nothing in the world greater than being a
full-time missionary.

Something that I am so grateful for and something I've learned more fully
on my mission is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To think of all of the
things he did for each and every one of us.  He suffered in Gethsemane, was
betrayed, beaten, bruised, made fun of, falsely accused, scourged, crowned
with thorns, sentenced to death, carried his own cross, undressed, then
nailed to that cross he carried, suffered again for our sins, and died. He
did this all for *us*. When he was suffering through it all he thought of
us all and continued to go through it all. He thought of you, and me
personally. He could have stopped it at any point. I'm sure he could have
called armies of angels to come down and stop it, but he did it for us.
Because of his perfect love for us.

I’m thankful for the relationship I have with my Father in Heaven, and the
relationship that I will continue to build. I know that this is his church,
and at its head is our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is ran by a bunch of ragtag
men that are no near perfect, but seeking after perfection. I know that
Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet of God. I am thankful for the
sacrifices made by him and other men and women like him to have this gospel
here on the earth today. I know the Book of Mormon to be true. I have come
closer to God through that book more than any other. I am thankful to be a
disciple of Jesus Christ, and I will be forevermore. "I am not ashamed of
the Gospel of Christ." Because I know there is "no other name given nor any
other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men,
only in and through the name of Christ."

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is
the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”

I leave my words with theirs and say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Tyson Ray Haddon

Highway to Heaven

This last week had some amazing things happen so I’ll hopefully be able to
write them all!

This first Quote goes to me in a place called Dalarna, *“I wouldn’t spend
that much money on a car, and some people are down to buy a stupid
Dalahäst.”* (Sister Beckstrand being one of them.) We had a fabulous trip
up to Dalarna, The Valleys, it is the most beautiful place in Sweden. We
got to go to this place where they cut paint and make Dalahästar,
(Dalecarlian Horses.)((See Pictures.)) IT was a very cool experience seeing
them just cut these horses super-fast, and half of the guys are missing
fingers. Haha But it was cool!

This next event goes to the famous song by Carrie Underwood, *“Jesus Take
the Wheel.”* We were on our way back from the south of Sweden after we had
done some training down there. Then out of nowhere started to snow like
crazy. We felt alright though, but we did have a 5 hour drive. About half
of the way there, our little car not having snow tires, decides to slide
around a bit. We were on the freeway going about 80 Km\Hr, and we ended up
sliding at a 90 degree angle. I had no control of the car.

Now this is where I’ll stop joking around for a bit. As you can imagine, my
heart is pretty much stopped. I have the wheel turned but it isn’t doing
anything for this car. Then out of nowhere it was like the wheel was taken
from me and it was yanked exactly where it needed to be and we were driving
perfectly straight again. I know from the bottom of my heart that wasn’t me
who did that. We pulled over to assess the situation and had a prayer of
gratitude that we were blessed to get out of that mess. (My Heavenly
Birthday Present.) ((Don’t worry mom the tires are on now, I changed them
myself.))

But we did get home safely and had an awesome day! We first got to go to a
birthday lunch with a Less-Active that I helped back to church in a past
area. She said she wanted to treat us to something we would never
experience otherwise. So we got to go to “The Stockholm Sweden Opera
House,” It was unreal. The building is older than The United States of
America. It was so nice of her, to take us. She always says that she is my
Chilean Mother in Sweden. (See Pictures.)

After a good hard day of work, after that wonderful lunch and classic music
concert, we were invited to a dinner with President and Sister Beckstrand.
They invited us to a place called, “*The Hard-Rock Café*.” I don’t know if
you guy had heard of it, but let me tell you it was an interesting place
for a couple of missionaries haha. (We did end up inviting, our waitress to
church so she might be coming this upcoming week.)

Then to finish off the week we had a baptism with our dear friend Shahla!
She is the best! I’m learning some Persian (Farsi) for her. Hayli hörs
masas. (The Food was delectable.) I’ll never be able to read that though….
غذا خوشمزه بود. Yeah, that is never happening. But the service went super
well. We had the chance to take her son around and he wants to be baptized
as well. As we were going around with him showing him the chapel. I got a
hand on my shoulder that said, “Mojgan can’t make it. You’re giving a talk
on baptism now.”

I honestly wasn’t surprised. I think every other week my entire mission I
have had that hand on my shoulder letting me know I was speaking in
Sacrament, teaching all the young men, (Check Pictures i probably should
stop teaching them), or gospel Principals. Once Elder Allsop and I had to
teach an entire zone conference in front of the entire leadership
conference…. We knew literally four seconds in advance. (Det gick bra,
#nailedit.)

But the whole baptismal service went extremely well. We got to have a real
Persian party with her and her family as well after. It was cool to see how
we all could still have a good time and interact with one another even if
we could barely communicate with each other. (I’m probably the King of
Charades now.)

I only have probably 2 more letters left. That is crazy. Love you all and
will see you all soon.

Elder Haddon

*Pictures:* (sorry I think they're out of order so you get to play the matching game!)

*1) Cutting the wooden horses*

*2) Painting the Horses*

*3) Painting Room*

*4) Finished product!*

*5) Me and my dalahäst*

*6) Dinner with Emma, Opera house*

*7) Restaurant in the Opera House *

*8) Just walking down the red carpet.*

*9) Opera house (Naked statues everywhere... come on Sweden)*

*10) Hard Rock Cafe*

*11) Ribs..... when was the last time i had those!!!*

*12) Happy Birthday to me! Thanks Family!*

*13) President in Hard Rock... I think he was just as uncomfortable as i
was.*

*14) Baptism with Shahla!*

*15) Teaching the Aaronic Priesthood*

*16) Me an the boys*

--
*Hata Spelaren, inte Spelet*
*Äldste Tyson Haddon*
*Sweden Stockholm Mission*
*Enebybergsvägen 38*
*182 46 Enebyberg*
*Sverige*

So late, so sorry!

Check out my blog and you'll see why I've been so terrible at updating Elder Haddon's (tannerandtaylor.blogspot.com)

Elder Haddon is almost home! Come hear him speak on Sunday,  November 30th at 2:45pm at 410 Benson Road in Stansbury.

10/27 e-mail:
The quote of the week is going to be changed to “the random act of service,” for the week. This comes from a very proud member in the ward whose daughter was giving a talk in sacrament meeting… I was translating from Swedish to English, which is something that I have been lucky enough to be fairly decent at. It only gets hard for me when people are reading stories or the scriptures and I can’t follow along. Well this Mother sits next to me as I am translating and her daughter starts this talk by reading the entire talk from some general authority. I’m trying to find it on the phone to see if I could simply read it with her. And the mother sees that I don’t really know where it is, she decided to take the microphone. I though she was going to start translating while I was finding it…. Instead she decided to help me by shoving the microphone in my mouth asking me to “Översätt!” (Translate!)

This defiantly helped with the situation and I was very appreciative for her “Random act of service.” (Said with a hint of sarcasm.)

But this week actually has been really great! I was traveling a lot this week was able to go to Göteborg, and as well to my old area in Jakobsberg. In Göteborg, it was just really cool just to go there and remember my greenie city, I miss that place a lot. Got to just work hard, and help the elders there. We got a couple of numbers, and even got a baptismal date. It’s always one of the greatest feelings to leave an exchange helping another missionary couple just get a little kick start to their work. When I was in Jakobsberg, I was able to show the missionary to a lot of places he had never been before and get in contact with some investigators and find some new ones. It’s one thing that I really like about going on exchanges, you can just work as hard as you can and help those people there you might not ever meet and in the same help the missionaries get things going!

 

We were able to help Ziping and Zhixiang get the priesthood yesterday which is great now we are working on getting them to the temple to do baptisms. Also taught Zhixaing some more English slang. (Words: Radical, nasty, and spectacular) This week went by quickly and this next week is going to be crazy with zone conferences the entire week. But I just want to say I’m so happy to be here and I love this work!Miss you all!

Love you all,

Elder Haddon

11/3 e-mail:
Amigos!

Great to write to you all this after this crazy week! We will be treated with 3 quotes this week, the first quote of the week will be kept anonymous. “I want to put them on a small boat, and have it set sail in the middle of the Baltic, and then sink it.” Let’s just say this person wasn’t too thrilled with some people and their actions…. Enough said.

Another quote comes from my companion yesterday, “I cannot believe that we just went to baby baptism, for a member in the ward’s baby, who was just blessed this morning in our church. It’s an abomination. ”

Yes, we were able to witness our first baby baptism on our missions. It was a very weird experience for us, and it was probably weird for everyone else. While everyone is in jeans and t-shirts, we were wearing suits and our name tags on. A few times we were told that the baptism services went great and thanked us for it… that’s when I knew we had to get out of there.

Last quote, "RIPPPPP.... Yes, that was my pants." (Look at the 4 guys, 1 horse picture and just take a guess....)

Last P-day, Elder Allsop and his new companion from the most northern area were able to come down and visit with us, before there zone conference. So we went to a place called Skansen. Where it has animals and just crazy cool stuff... Most of the animals weren't out because it is cold but it was still cool! We got to see a gnarly bear fight though... worth every krona.

This week was great and very busy. We had 3 different zone conferences in Gubbängen, Västerhanige and Malmö. They all went super well we trained on, “How to be Spectacular Missionaries, (using the great examples of Olympic Athletes.)” President and Sister Beckstrand trained on unity, and to have "Warm hands and Warm Hearts," so they gave us some pretty nice mittens, (See Pictures.) To be honest it turned out pretty well, I felt like it was the best one I have ever done anyway. The training we feel was received really well but the hardest part about these conferences wasn’t the 1 ½ hour presentation, it was giving my “Dying Testimony,” three different times.

The first time was very difficult because it was with Elder Allsop, previous companion and dear friend. He got up and we just looked at each other and just realized that this is real. So by the time I got up I was already pretty emotional. The Second time, I had to follow my other dear friend Elder Faylor, I could barely speak. And the third time, was the hardest. It really helped me realize how much I truly do love my mission. I will miss this. It was wonderful to get to see all of the missionaries one more time, I felt like I've had the chance to work with them all, so it was great to say some goodbyes. It's crazy how fast it goes. But I still have a couple more weeks to finish it off.

Speaking of which, we have been teaching this lady now, with one of the Persian missionaries, and she is getting baptized! We got a baptismal date with her last week, and is planning on getting baptized on this Saturday. She is just so fantastic, all she wants to do is to follow Christ. She absolutely loves church, and knows that is true. So now we will start working with her kids as well. So I’ll keep you posted on that one.

Well I hope you all know that I love you all and that I am extremely happy where I am now. I know this is the Lord’s work, I know that I am his disciple and that I will forever be that. Love you all.

Elder Haddon