Let it Snow....Let it Snow....Let it Snow!!

This week Aldste Haddon's email was great, I don't think that I could say it any differently so I have decided to live on the edge and post it here for you. As always, thank you for caring about and praying for Our Missionary! We appreciate all you do for our family!

 

"The quote of the week is by President Newell, “The mission is an extremely hard thing, life is incredibly hard for everyone as well. The Garden of Gethsemane wasn't easy either. ”

 

It was the first week of snow... So now its dark for 18 hours of the day, colder then a Eskimo's freezer , humid, windy and I am absolutely loving it. (As long as I have thermals and wool socks on.) This week we taught a lot of less-active people. The ward has about 220 members and about 40 active. So we have been the clean up crew for the most of them. Trying to get these people to remember the happiness they have felt from the church before and getting them to come back.

There has been a lot of problems in this ward from the beginning. As of lately there has been a lady who has been excommunicated going around and teaching less-actives how to write themselves out of the church. Which has been a really big problems because we have about 20 people who didn't really want to. Now we are working with them bringing them back to the church and helping them to be members once again.

 

[We started to work with one man] He is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met! It was a miracle that we found him again, because he wasn't on the ward lists anymore. So we just went through old reports and saw that he was taught at one point. So we called him up and he was telling us how much he has missed the church and having the missionaries over. So we came over and he has been really sick, so we gave him a blessing and starting to teach him again.

 

He told him of this nice old lady who came over from the church and told him that if he follows these steps he can have less contact from the church. So he did just because she kind of convinced him to. But now he has finally realized what happened and want to come back once he starts feeling better.

Our work here like I said isn't really all the same as other areas I have served in. We are building this ward so that its can eventually be one of best wards in Sweden. We are working really hard with getting less-actives back and strengthening the members here.

 

Doing as the Lord himself did, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing”

 

I am so happy for the work that we are doing here and everyday I try to be just a little bit better, work a little bit harder, push a little bit more and at the end of the day I just hit my bed and know I have given it my all. And then the alarm wakes me up, and I do it again.

Love you all,

Elder Haddon"

 

World War III

Well let me just start this off by saying sorry this post is about 12 hours late, like a true stay at home mom, I forgot it was Monday until a few hours ago when I saw which primetime TV shows were on. Don't judge it, till you've been there! haha!

 

Well, lets just say, this Thanksgiving has been most likely the most memorable Thanksgiving these two missionaries might have ever had....not exactly in a good way.

 

They had a traditional Thanksgiving meal at their church building with other missionaries and investigators they invited...here's Aldste Haddon's story:

 

"1)Fighter:  230 lbs. 5'6” He's on of the funniest guys you would ever meet he just says some things that can get you in to trouble....

2) Fighter: 190 lbs. 5'7” He's been lifting sense he was 13 years old so he is a jacked dude. Calls everyone brodogs.....

 

We are all in the church waiting to get the Thanksgiving Fest started. So we were all out in the foyer, waiting to get our feast on.

So Fighter 1 being a funny guy, decided to shave himself a mustache.... That's when it all started. Fighter 2 decided to make a comment that he looked the guy named Borat. (google him) Fighter 1 trying to be funny says it back to him, “You kinda look like him too!”

Fighter 2 didn't take to lightly to that comment. We had a little prayer and then everyone started to dig in. I see Fighter 2 just pacing out in the Foyer and then runs up to Fighter 1, and in Swedish says, “Come and chat with me outside.”

So they go, I saw this and I can tell that Fighter 2 isn't the happiest fella, so I tell Allsop to come with me to make sure everything is okay. We look and Fighter 2 is just yelling at Fighter 1, who looks very innocent and a little scared holding his hands up saying come out here and help me. So we go out Fighter 2 is just yelling at him to show some respect and he is just laying it on him. So I grab him and take him inside.

I'm telling him to calm down its no big deal, just let it go and we are just going to have a good time and eat some American-made food. We were walking down a hall away from it and we turn around and Ken comes in the church like a wild banshee and says, “I'm not afraid of you!” and comes in with a flying Head-butt to Fighter 2's face.

It was just like when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, all heaven broke loose. Fighter 2 punches Fighter 1 square in the face, and they just start to go at it! So of coarse we can't let this happen so Allsop and I jump in pulling them both off of each other. I was on Fighter 2 and Sop was on Fighter 1. Every time that we would pull on off they other would get loose and hit the other (and one of us). It was a mess. Sister Sorensen the senior couple comes in thinking that we are just rough housing and says, “Boys, let stop playing aro...” then realizes this was not some boys messing around. Then just gets out of there!

Finally I have a decent lock on Fighter 2, Fighter 1 is bleeding pretty bad and Allsop has pushed him down to the end of this hall. Fighter 2 is screaming, "Let Go!” I told him to calm down finally his breathing calmed down, and he said that he was done. So I start to let go, and he darts down the end of the Hall toward Allsop who is guarding a bleeding Fighter 1. He's going full boar straight for Allsop and Allsop goes back to High school football and slams him into the wall. I come up and we both pin him while Fighter 1 runs behind us and hides to the bathroom. I am holding him to the wall while Allsop is trying to get this back door opened. Finally get it opened and throw him out of there.

Needless to say it was one crazy night. Blood all over our shirts,(Why you can see that we have switched into turtle necks that we found in the lost in found) caught a few blows to the face, but we are alive and still doing well."

 

 

This is the area that Aldste Haddon is serving in, it is often that people get into fights, Hymn books have been thrown at church, the area was about to be closed by the mission president before Aldste Haddon and Allsop agreed to serve there and work as hard as they could to soften hearts and share the gospel. In fact, this ward requires that the Stake Presidency is their bishopric because they tend to struggle so much.

 

This week they had a Priesthood meeting with all of the men in the ward, they were so sad because none of the men they had been teaching and working with had come to the meeting. As the meeting continued though, the men each began speaking one by one. Each mentioning ways that these two missionaries had helped them serve and love that much more. They told stories of Family Home Evening lessons, Blessings, and learning how to serve in their callings to the best of their ability, each story including these two 20-year old men. Young men who leave their families for two years to do the hardest work that our church requires, even being willing to get punched in the face here and there.

 

There is a reason that Aldste Haddon and Allsop are the young men in this area at this time, it could be for their own growth, it could be for the growth of those whom they serve, but one thing is for sure, they have been prepared for what they're facing, and they are giving it their all.

 

I believe that we are all placed where we need to be, when we need to be there. There are very few accidents, and even fewer coinsidences. Like these missionaries, we have a purpose to love, serve and lift those that we are around. We might not have to break up fights, knock on doors and watch for flying fists and Hymn books, but we each have traits and skills that are needed where we are. I know that if we pray for opportunities to use the traits and talents that we have been given, (whether we recognize them in ourselves or not) we will have the chance to help people feel the light of Christ in their life through us. Lets each look for an opportunity to help people feel closer to their

Heavenly Father, that they might know Him because they know us. I know that as we strive to do this, our lives will be blessed much more than we could imagine.

Merry Christmas Month!

 Lost and Found Turtle Necks! Whoot Whoot!

 

Keep Working, Keep Pushing

Well it might be Thanksgiving Week for us, but believe it or not, Thanksgiving isn't as big of deal in Sweden! So, Aldste Haddon and his companion have big plans to try to prepare their own Thanksgiving feast on their own! Wish them luck, if there is one thing to be Thankful for this year, maybe it's that two twenty year old missionaries won't be cooking our Thanksgiving meal.

He also said it hasn't been over 0*F this week and it gets dark at 2pm! He wishes that he wouldn't have bought fingerless gloves!

 

Aldste Haddon and his companion are in what is considered to be the most difficult area in Sweden, the people are hard to reach out to and the members struggle with being involved with the missionaries and their efforts. Elders have gone home after serving in this area and others have come very close. As they have worked hard and tried to turn things around in the area, it has become all the more frustrating. This week he read Alma Chapter 8. This chapter is about Alma trying to teach the people the word of God but their hearts were hardened and they would not listen to Alma. He eventually felt discouraged and started to leave.

 

Here is what Aldste Haddon said as he finished the story:

"So they get laughed at and spit on, so they leave. They think we'll just go to our next area and everything will be 500X better, but an angel of the Lord comes to them and says, “Turn around guys. You get back in there, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Lord didn't send you to Sweden to fail. You are ment to be here. So turn your butts around and get back in there.”

The Lord didn't call Elder Haddon and Elder Allsop, to come to Uppsala and not find teach and baptize. He called us here because he knows that at this exact time the people of Uppsala need us, and we need to put forth the effort and just work or as a great missionary once said... “Do the Dang Thing.”

Its going slower here, but we are working the very hardest we can, and when we hit the bed every night we know that the Lord is proud of what we did and we are only going to continue to keep doing it.

 

Just remember no matter what is in your life keep fighting, keep pushing forward, as long as you have a heart beat in your chest and any strength in your body, keep kicking, thrashing, smashing through it. You will win the fight at the end of the day. Just remember to have the Faith in the Lord because he's always going to tag you out and help you win the fight.

 

Love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week!"

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! Thanks for supporting us and our missionary!

 

 

YEAR MARK!!, New Companion, and Stake Conference

This week was exciting for our family because Aldste Haddon reached the YEAR MARK of his mission! That's one year down, and one to go! It's so exciting! It feels like just yesterday we were eating at the yucky Ihop in Provo and dropping off our lil Ty at the MTC. We could tell he was totally nervous, but he didn't want to let us on to it. We took pictures in the parking lot and sent him off thinking that two years was going to feel like it would last a lifetime! Now, we're at the half way point and it feels like time might fly by way too fast now! Life is crazy!

 

 

Aldste Haddon and his new companion (also named Tyson) had a pretty exciting week! They are zone leaders in their area meaning they are leaders over a large area of missionaries. They are responsible for helping those missionaries be successful and reach their teaching goals. This week they had a zone conference that they had to teach and lead. They decided to teach the elders about the importance of setting and achieving goals. They likened the process of goal setting to skiing or snowboarding down a mountain. No matter what the mountain holds, whether it is nice powder, or slush, once you start your way down, you have to accomplish the task one way or another. Eventually, you have to make it to the bottom of the mountain. Setting and achieving goals can be looked at in a similar way; it isn't always easy to make it to the end goal, but there is always a way to accomplish it. You might have to get creative and pull some interesting stumps, but if you work at it, you'll be able to make it.

Here is a video link that Aldste Haddon sent as a visual aid for the lesson: http://vimeo.com/32863936

 

 

Also this week was Stake Conference. The 'Tysons' were asked to speak to the stake about how home teaching can help strengthen the ward and improve missionary work. He said it was terribly nerve wracking especially because they were late, in fact they walked in just as they were supposed to start speaking. He said if you want to know what nervous feels like try speaking in front of an entire stake in a language you're just beginning to learn after arriving late. I personally think I'll leave that to him, sounds like he's got it covered. I can barely speak English!

 

 

All in all, it was a good week for Aldste Haddon. They worked hard and are getting settled in their new companionship. Thank you all for your support and love you send Aldste Haddon! We're coming up on the holidays which is the time of year that it's harder to be apart but when we have your support and know that he is working hard and doing what he loves, it makes all the difference!

 

Stockholm Temple



A Fantastic Birthday Surprise

Aldste Haddon had is Birthday on Wednesday and he said it was fantastic! They were at a conference in Stockholm so he got to meet up with everyone. The whole conference sang to him and they crowned him making him a birthday girl or something (you never know with these guys! They're a little weird, that's why we love them!) He got to see his best friends from the MTC Elders Allsop and Faylor and it was really fun to hang out with them again.

 

This week Aldste Haddon and his companion also moved into a super nice brand new apartment, for the past few weeks they have been living with two other elders because there is a housing shortage in Sweden. It really is a small miracle every time they are able to find missionary housing there. You might remember that the group that arrived right after Aldste Haddon last year were 'homeless' for a very long time before they were able to find enough apartments.

 

But, apart from all of that, Aldste Haddon got the most exciting news this week....he found out he will be Elder Allsop's new companion! One BFF down, one to go! He is SO excited to be able to serve with him, he knows that they'll work well together and get a lot of missionary work done. They were together in the MTC so it's pretty exciting that they get to serve together as companions now!

 

...Now on to missionary work. So the ward he is currently serving in has been struggling with missionary work and home teaching. Aldste Haddon and his companion have been working very hard to be able to get the mission area turned around and encourage the members  to 'catch the wave of missionary work' since being there, the home teaching numbers have improved "360%" (I don't know exactly what that means, but what I do know is that it sounds like a lot) haha!

 

 

So, overall, Aldste Haddon has had a fantastic birthday week, and is looking forward to celebrating his YEAR mission mark this week! He wants to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and prayers in his behalf!

 Delightful Birthday Feast

Elder Allsop, Haddon and Faylor (Left to Right) Aldste Haddon's Birthday Sash

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