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

Lots of Appointments and a Sweet Old Lady

Well Sweden has been a busy place this week...Aldste Haddon and his companion set up the most appointments they have ever had in one day 8 lessons! Sadly, only one of the lessons showed up, a sweet old lady who likes to go on walks with them. He said she's 95 and doesn't have all of the wires aligned like you might hope....he favorite story to tell is the one about moving from Finland to Sweden! He said she is sweet, but it was tough to have that many appointments cancel on them in one day.

A different day, they were walking up the street and a man came up to them and asked what their response was to the verses in the scriptures that talked about how there is only one bible, and we need no more Bible. Aldste Haddon expected that the man hoped to begin an argument with them so he calmly gave his answer about the Book of Mormon being another testament of Jesus Christ and his people in the Americas. 

(Click to read about and see a video introducing the purpose and message of the Book of Mormon.)

To that response, the man was so happy and said he honestly wanted to know the answer and no one had given it to him before and he wanted to know more about 'the mormons'. So they have been teaching him and he is desirous to be baptized! It's pretty exciting, and it just shows how Heavenly Father prepares people to hear the gospel.

Overall, they have really been working hard in the area. The bishop of the ward is so excited with the progress they are making, and set the goal with them to find, teach and baptize 6 new members while they were there. So far, they have baptized 3 new members and it is so exciting to see the work progressing.

President Obama was in Sweden this week as well. He said it made life hard for everyone...they couldn't take buses or cars as usual. They had to walk and ride bikes everywhere and even that was difficult. Needless to say, I don't think he's going to miss him now that he's gone!

All in all, it's been a hectic week but Aldste Haddon is doing well and sends his love!

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