Called To Serve: 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)*