Aldste Haddon's First Transfer

This week has been a little rough in Kungsbacka. They've had to start completely fresh trying to find new people, and with a lot of doors slammed in their faces, they weren't exactly as successful as they had hoped to be. They are still very close with the ward and each other though, and had planned to play another football game this Friday with the zone and ward members when he got a phone call from....dun dun dun... the mission president.

He asked that they put the phone on speaker because he had some important information about upcoming transfers. As the President began to talk, he told Tyson's companion that he would be transferred to a new area to train some of the 32 new missionaries they got last transfer (who have been living in a hotel since they arrived, Sweden doesn't have enough apartments for their own people, let alone for the missionaries so it has been a HUGE struggle to find housing for all of these new elders and sisters). As the mission president was telling his companion about the transfer, Ty began to think that he was going to be able to stay where he was. He was getting excited to be able to keep working with the people he has come to love in the past 9 weeks and thought he had dodged the transfer bullet one more time. But then the mission president said 'Aldste Haddon, you'll be transferring to Stockholm to the mission home to be a secretary. I'll be seeing you everyday. See you on Wednesday.' He said his heart dropped because he was really hoping to stay in the city he has come to love, but there must be a reason he's been called to serve in the mission home. Not to mention, now he'll get all of his mail express! So start sending letters I guess, in the past they have taken a VERY long time to get to him!

He also said conference was an amazing experience. They were only able to watch a couple of sessions (reason unknown to us) but he looks forward to catching up on all of the rest of it. He said it is such a blessing to hear from the prophet of God, and to listen to someone who speaks with God directly, it's amazing!

So, it's off to the mission home! We'll have to see what exciting adventures take place as the Lord's Secretary!

Mario and a turtle thing Ty drew (weirdo)

Tyler the ward mission leader from San Diego, can't speak Swedish either so they get along well! (He drew the super man!)



 Superman played by "Tyson Danger Haddon"

 A comic book his friend Sam from Stansbury (serving in Oregon) sent Ty

 A king on a horse, Ty plans to have this statue of him someday

Ward members playing innabandy

Dop means baptism I guess...

 Max, an awesome young adult in the ward

 



Easter in Sweden

Aldste Haddon has a had a pretty good week in Sweden, the first thing he made sure to mention in his email this week was that he was able to play American football on Pday which, knowing him, I'm sure he has missed!

 

He said that is favorite experience this week was on pday, the went to an Easter message with a friend who is planning on leaving Sweden to serve a mission himself and an investigator. Part of the way through the meeting, the friend got up and left and appeared to be very upset. Aldste Haddon followed him out of the room to see what was the matter, he said that he was worried about leaving for his mission and leaving his friends and moments like that behind. Aldste Haddon said he told him that he has missed things at home since he has left but he wouldn't trade his mission for anything, and that it is worth the sacrifices. Around that same time, the investigator they had brought came out into the hall upset. He said he didn't understand how they could say that Christ suffered more than anyone can suffer because he had been through so much in his life he just couldn't believe that Christ really could have gone through more than any other human being. Aldste Haddon said that he explained to him that it was just about the suffering, but also the atonement and that no matter what happens, we are never alone and that because of the atonement, Christ knows all that you have suffered and gone through. He said the spirit was extremely strong, and the investigator left. After that, Aldste Haddon's friend turned to him and said after that he knows that he it is right for him to serve a mission. He said he was an amazing experience and he feels so happy to be able to serve a mission.

 

Thank you for all of your love and support! It sounds like Aldste Haddon is doing wonderful!

 

 

Also, Tanner's sister Kinzi entered the MTC last Wednesday, to serve a mission in Scotland/Ireland. If you would like to follow her mission, her blog address is:

 

www.SisterKinziRicks.blogspot.com

 

 



A good week

It sounds like Aldste Haddon has a had a good week in Sweden, he was able to go to zone conference and see some of his MTC friends and meet with the mission president who he loves and is very grateful for. He said that things are going well in the mission, and there are some excellent ward missionaries and mission leaders that are making his job a lot more fun...I mean more successful!

We're not exactly suppose to copy and paste his emails, but he shares the following story, it's almost a quote but I have changed some things...sorry aren't rules meant to be broken every once and awhile?

 

This is a story about someone they have been working with:

 

...We get there and she has her whole family there and a Preacher. Oj då! So they were all very upset that we were trying to Baptize her. So we taught them the Restoration and why we have to baptized in this church, Spirit was strong but it was also very hectic because of all of the different opinions. I was some what quiet for a while because everyone was talking. I finally just said (In Swedish)

"Can I say something." They all stopped talking. I looked at our investigator from across the table and said pointing around the room,

"You can't listen to them, you can't listen to us." Paused for a second, then said,

"You have to feel and listen for the Holy Ghost, that is how God will answer you. You have to find out for yourself."

The spirit was so strong, Everyone in the room agreed and said that if she knows in her heart it is true, they will support her. We left and I just knew that, the spirit touched everyone of there hearts. I'm just some 19 year old boy, I can't convert these people, and I can't speak the language that great or change these peoples hearts. But, I know that through the Power God has given, kids like me, anything is possible. I never thought that i would feel this way but i love missionary work, Its the greatest thing I will be able to do my entire life. I'm so happy to be here!

 

 Ty's new haircut:

 



A Tough Week

This week, (much like last week) Aldste Haddon doesn't have much to report...he did say they were able to schedule another baptism date with a sister he has been working with since the first week he got to Sweden, so that is exciting!

The rest of the week however he has faced a lot of the typical missionary rejection, one person told him to find his own family to be with instead of theirs, which was hard to hear but he knows that is just part of missionary work and he's trying to not let that kind of thing get him down.

 

 

He wants all of those he loves here at home who have experienced great loss and tragedy this week to know he loves them and their families and that they are in his prayers individually.

He hopes the love of the Savior is with all of you this week.

 

Thank you for your support of Aldste Haddon, our family has felt your support and prayers in our lives so much already.

Facebook Picture

This picture of Aldste Haddon and his first companion was posted by his companions mom on facebook, she said that her son really liked working with Ty and that he's a good missionary and hardworker. Aldste Haddon feels the same way about him and is glad he's been able to have such a great first companion who taught him so much!

 



First New Companion

After six weeks in Sweden, Aldste Haddon has been transferred for the first time, he is the only greenie in his group who has been transferred, and he is starting to realize that he probably is done with his training period and really in the thick of things now.

 

He said that last week was mostly an adjustment with having a new companion and having lost all of his serious investigators. They spent the majority of the week tracting and contacting so they've been trying to work hard and find some people they can start teaching more seriously.

 

Other than that, there hasn't been much new going on, he did send home some chocolate last week (super yummy!) and he doesn't even like chocolate usually but he loves Swedish chocolate, we're not sure what he has been cooking for himself there, so he might be living on chocolate for all we know!

 

Thanks for all of the emails and letters being sent his way! He loves to hear from everyone!

1st Transfers

Aldste Haddon had another good week. He and his companion set a record for their area teaching 20 lessons this week! Because of that, they are being separated tomorrow at transfers and Aldste Haddon is sad and nervous about that because he likes his companion and the training period with your first trainer is usually at least twelve weeks, but he's excited to start a new adventure!

 

Unfortunately, both of their scheduled baptisms have fallen through but Aldste Haddon just says that's more incentive to keep working harder and reaching out to more and more people. Other than that, this week is pretty slow on the new information. Here are some long awaited pictures though!