Turning the BIG 2-0!

 

This week, Aldste Haddon and his companion had two amazing experiences with Priesthood Blessings. He says that he knows that it is the power of Heavenly Father on the earth and he feels so blessed to be able to have and honor the priesthood.

The first experience was with a man who's wife, high school sweetheart who waited for him while on his mission passed away from a rare form of cancer leaving him to raise two children with special needs on his own. Of course, this has been a terrible tragedy for the family and has been heartbreaking for this man. When Aldste Haddon met with him, he could tell that he was near bottom and feeling very upset. Aldste Haddon asked if he would like a priesthood blessing. The man's eyes lit up and said he hadn't had one since before his wife got sick and would love one. He asked Aldste Haddon to offer the blessing. He said that the Holy Ghost was present at that time and everyone in the room was overwhelmed by the comfort of our Heavenly Father. With tear filled eyes the man testified that he knew his wife was still with him and that he had to go on for her and for their kids and that Heavenly Father would be there to help him through it all.

 

 

The second experience, they were assisting the ward with their home teaching efforts. They went to visit a sister in the ward who was currently living in a rest home.

 Aldste Haddon told the story so well so here is how he put it:

"She is 90 years old and has Alzheimer’s. She hasn’t responded to even her own children for the last 20 years. We thought we would visit her so that he could be familiar how home teaching usually goes. We read to her some scriptures and I said jokes, and it pretty much I was just like talking to a wall. It was quiet sad.

But as we started to go she started to try to talk and move. We didn’t know what she wanted, we just knew that she looked very upset. So we decided to ask her if she wanted a priesthood blessing. She looked me in the eyes, it was like she was looking into my soul, and nodded her head with agreement. We all looked at each other very surprised that she even could understand what we were saying.

We had Lennart give her a blessing and it was beautiful. It was just an amazing feeling. After she had the biggest smile on her face. It was just so wonderful. First, we saw the world’s saddest woman, then the world’s happiest."

 

He ended his email by saying:

"It was very cool to be a tool in the Lord’s hands. I know that wasn’t any of our own powers that did that, it was clearly the Lord’s. I am so happy and blessed that I am able to have this and be worthy of using it.

I just wanted to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and all the wonderful emails and lvoe I have received here in Sweden. Ya’ll are da best!"

 This sign says "tourist kisses"

 The primary made him birthday gifts! So sweet!

A pic with the ward council

Blessings of the Priesthood

Things have been going fairly well for Aldste Haddon in Sweden.

They have an awesome friend there who always feeds them on Tuesday nights at 8pm...not 8:03, not 8:01, 8PM. Well the other day, they took the wrong train and arrived at 8:06!!! After some gentle "threatening" from the man to take them out back and fight to the death, they had the best Chilean food as well as a great visit with him.

Aldste Haddon has also been told that he may be transferred again in the coming week so they have really amped up their efforts to get the members in the ward actively involved in missionary work. They have begun organizing visits and monthly family home evenings that include both members and investigators so that they can get to know each other and learn the gospel together.

They also have been trying to teach people who are already baptized but have lost the desire to attend church. Recently they have been working with a man who has recently been diagnosed with leukemia...here is the story in Aldste Haddon's words:

 "Well sadly he has been diagnosed with Leukemia, and things were going badly for him. We came over once and he told us how he is going to have an operation really soon, where they can try to get rid of the Cancer and prolong his life. They said it is very risky and he will have to use many types of chemotherapy, which always has not the greatest side-effects. I asked him if he would like a blessing. His face lit up, he said he would love that. He pointed to me and asked me to do it.

As I was giving this blessing I felt so calm and I only said the things of my heart, at one point I told him, “The operation is going to go well, it is going to be very difficult but you but you will get better through your faith in Jesus Christ, and you will be a strong member of the church once again.” I do not know why I said that, all I know was that it was from the spirit. The doctors said he frankly doesn't have much time left. But I knew it felt right.

Its been several weeks since the blessing and the operation, he has fought of the cancer almost completely and had a very hard time throughout. We visited him in the hospital last night and he just looked at me and cried, “Through the pain and suffering and all I have gone through, all I could remember was that blessing that you gave me. I knew in my heart I would be alright. I also have learned how much Christ really loves me.” He is going home in a couple days, and he told me that he will be coming back to church, there is no question about that.

I just want to say I know that the Priesthood really is God's power that he has entrusted with men. I am glad to be worthy to have it. I just want to thank you all again for all the wonderful emails and the love that I feel through them.  I love you all, and see you on the flip-side!"

Click to hear from Elder Oaks about Healing the Sick

 How the Turkish fly everywhere:

Surprise Baptisms and Americans

This week has been a week full of surprises for Aldste Haddon. To start off, they decided to do splits with the other district in his area to give it an extra boost. While they were working, they got a phone call from a man that they have been working with who had at one point, chosen to not be apart of the church, but through learning more about the gospel from the missionaries had chosen to get baptized. When he called, he was ready to be baptized then and there, (he had met with the Stake President and received approval) so they went straight to the church, filled the font and performed the ordinance. It was an amazing, and exciting experience.

 

Surprise number 2 came when they were walking down the street and they heard two men yell: ELDERS!! They turned to see some men about their age walking. When they approached, they found out that they were both returned missionaries walking from Iceland across Asia just to say that they can! They visited with them for awhile and everyone went on their way.

 

A little later came surprise number three.

They were walking along and heard a group of finely dressed business men yell: ELDERS!! (In English) So, they turned and as they began to walk up to them one of the men said that he was just telling his friends about them and the gospel. So they began walking and talking with the men. One of them expressed that he REALLY wanted to learn more about the gospel, and Aldste Haddon began talking to him. He told him about his life here at home, the sports that he played and the scholarships that he turned down. The man was so surprised and asked him why he was willing to leave everything behind and put his own life on hold. Aldste Haddon explained that it is more important to him to be able to share the gospel and help people than to fulfill his own dreams and life during this time. He is willing to give up so much so that others can have what we have and know what we know. That Christ lives, that this is His gospel and that through the priesthood and the sacred ordinances that Heavenly Father has given us, we can have eternal life with Him and with our families again. He wants everyone to know that Joseph Smith restored Christ's church on the earth, and that he sacrificed SO much to give us the gospel and The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

The man was filled with the spirit, and Aldste Haddon has promised to find a way to send the missionaries to him in Kansas and he is thrilled to learn more.

 

It goes to show that sometimes the Lord really does work in mysterious ways; who knew that man would have to come all the way to Sweden from America to learn about the church and find a missionary he could relate to.

Clearly, nothing is a coincidence.

 

Watch this video about The Restoration of the Gospel

Expecting...again!

Aldste Haddon is doing well! The man they baptized last week was given the Aaronic Priesthood this week and has been doing his family history work to prepare to take the names to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  Aldste Haddon is so excited to see him so eager to learn about the gospel and already begin temple work. It's one of those moments that really make all the sacrifices of missionary work worth it!

This week, they also continued to teach two other investigators who have scheduled baptism dates! They of course are working hard with these individuals to try to ensure that these dates stay firm.

Aldste Haddon has enjoyed working with is greenie. He is learning the language very quickly and is a steller missionary. But, this week he is being moved to the northern part of the city they are currently serving in and  Aldste Haddon will receive a new greenie fresh off of the plane and get to stay where he is currently located. He's thrilled to meet a new young man willing to serve and to be able to keep working with the investigators and members he has grown to love so much in the area!

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! We are happy to report another great week from Stockholm, Sweden mission!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and thoughts in Grandpa Haddon's behalf. He is being sent home this week and being set up with hospice care. We don't know how much longer he will have with us here on the earth, but we do know that we have learned so much from him and are grateful for his example and testimony that he has used to strengthen our lives. It is times like these that really remind us of how thankful we are for eternal families and the blessings that come from being sealed for eternity. This is why missionaries give so much, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn about eternal families!

Also, look for the new links on blog posts that will take you to LDS.org to explain the terms! I'll try to keep that feature updated from week to week!