First P Day In Sweden!

Mondays are Pdays in Sweden and we just got our first email all the way from

Kungsbacka Sweden! (kind of near England)

Aldste Haddon is doing really well. He said he's really enjoying his companion, the area and the people. He says he really doesn't understand much of what people are saying, but they are so sweet and patient with him! Church was kind of long, not being able to understand anyone and all, but luckily a man from California was there and gave his entire talk in English so it was kind of nice to hear a little bit of the language he knows! We asked him if since he was so near England if they speak English too and he said most everyone speaks terrible English...but he speaks terrible Swedish so its been interesting thus far...

He really likes his new companion, he said he is very helpful and is always ready to support him and help him learn the language and how to navigate the country. Right now, they mostly walk and ride a pentältåg  (whatever that is...) And it's FREEZING there, but they just try to keep bundled up!

This past week they had an appointment set up that they were very excited about but it sadly fell through. While they were trying to figure out what to do instead, they got a phone call from a number they didn't know. When they answered it, it was an investigator from a VERY long time ago asking if they could come teach him and his family. Of course, they were very excited and hurried over, only expecting the man and his wife but were surprised to see six people there. They were all very eager to hear the message he had to share and promised to begin reading The Book of Mormon, his companion did most of the teaching, but he told them about the first vision. He said that they were all very nice about it and were shocked he could speak that well after only having been there for 5 days! They set up a lesson for this week with all of them and Aldste Haddon says he's: "PUMPED!!"

He sounds like he's starting to settle in and get working! Thanks again for all of your love and support!

Home Sweet Home

 Oh flashback to the MTC



Arrival In Sweden

He made it! We got our first letter/email from Elder Haddon since arriving in Sweden! (He had to hand write the letter and then they scanned and emailed it for him so it was very hard to read, but great to hear from him!)

 

Here are the main points of the letter:

 

1. He hadn't slept in 28 hours at the time he wrote home and was EXHAUSTED! He was hoping he could just hit the pillow and catch up big time. He kept falling asleep through all of the orientation.

 

2. He LOVES his mission president and his wife, and can tell they genuinely care about and love him and all of the other missionaries serving there.

 

3. It was beyond COLD! It was 7*F and 100% humidity when he was tracting on the first day. He said that his suit was frozen stiff as a board by the time they were done.

 

4. The first family he met out tracting was very short and basically slammed the door in his face, but the second family said they were looking for the light of Christ and were very receptive. They committed to going to church this Sunday and have set up lessons already, he said that he is batting a 200 right now so there's room for improvement...I guess the mission is going to be measured in sports stats!

 

5. Information about what city he'll be in, and his companion will be sent to his Mom by the  mission mom (mission president's wife) so it's on it's way.

 

Overall, Ty said he's excited to be there and he knows he's doing what Heavenly Father wants him to be doing at this time in his life. He feels blessed to be able to serve a mission and like always is so grateful to have so much love being sent his way from everyone here at home!

The Call Home From the Airport

Elder Haddon is expected to have arrived in Sweden EARLY this morning after traveling from the MTC late Sunday night. We were able to talk to him from the airport on his last layover before the flight to Sweden. We haven't heard how that flight has gone, but we guess that no news is good news. Here are some of the things that he shared during the phone call:

 

1. He his SO excited to leave the MTC and actually head to Sweden, he has seen so many people come and go from the MTC so he was excited to head out himself.

2. He said that he is not that worried about learning the language because he knows the Lord will bless him if he has faith to learn it. He plans to just practice and prepare and let Heavenly Father do the rest.

3. One of his best new friends from the MTC who is also headed to Sweden has the first name of Tyson and a little brother named Hunter, it must be meant to be!

4. He was able to meet and talk to a nice lady on the first plane ride who he really felt connected to and meant to meet because all of his district was seated next to each other except he was seated next to this woman. He wanted to establish a relationship with her and not make her feel uncomfortable but by the end of the plane trip, he felt very impressed to share a Book of Mormon with her, and she was very appreciative. He said that this experience was such a blessing and makes him even more excited to share the gospel with the people of Sweden.

5. Elder Haddon said that he forgot to tell us, but every Monday in the MTC, he was able to Skype with a member who was in Sweden and speaking Swedish so he could practice giving the lessons which was something he learned a learned a lot from and really enjoyed.

6. His group of missionaries (10) is the largest to ever go to the Swedish mission at one time, and the next transfer will be a group of 13! In Sweden, they usually have the missionaries in the field for 8-10 months before they are trainers but now it might only be one or two months before you have to train. He is SO excited about all of the changes to missionary work because it is really going to help the work progress. He feels like it is so exciting that the church is changing and progressing in this way!

 

Lastly, Elder Haddon sends his love and appreciation back home. He loves everyone that is thinking about him and praying for him. He feels so blessed to be able to serve a mission, he has already learned and grown so much and looks forward to learning and growing for the next 21 months!

Sweden...Here we come!

Today was Aldste Haddon's last p-day in the MTC! It's finally time to leave for Sweden!

Aldste Haddon and his district leave Sunday night LATE and fly and have layovers for two days planning to arrive in Sweden on Tuesday night! He said he's nervous, excited and already packing!

Aldste Haddon gets to call home from the airport Monday afternoon since he was unable to call on Christmas in the MTC, so we're all very anxious to hear from him, and hope to have more information to post about then.

The MTC has been a priceless experience Ty has made new friends, connected with old ones, learned more about the scriptures and the gospel, learned to rely on the Lord in all things, learned some Swedish, played hard, prayed harder and learned to love the missionaries in his district whom he served. So far, his mission has been amazing and he can't wait to share his testimony and the gospel with the people of Sweden.

We will keep you posted on Aldste Haddon's journey to Stockholm, Sweden!

Also, we're still trying to sell Ty's Gold's Gym VIP membership, it's a two-person membership for $67/mo., any location, no transfer fee. If you know someone who needs one, let me know (tayshay91@hotmail.com)

Flu in the MTC

Just got this week's email from Aldste Haddon- and the MTC is not immune to the flu just because they're doing the Lord's work....he said that about 80% of the missionaries there got the flu and EVERYONE in his district got it except him, he feels like that is a huge blessing and is praying he remains able to avoid it. He even said that at one point, there were no toilets available in the MTC because so many elders were throwing up! Yucky! He calls it the omega flu. Maybe all of his crazy diet and workout rules are actually paying off!

 

We can't believe it but his travel plans are going to be given to him tomorrow...he said they're getting their flight plans soon, he's excited to get going but he's very nervous to be thrown into the middle of Sweden knowing very little Swedish!

 

The highlight of his week was being able to meet his friend Hunter at the curb when his family took him to the MTC yesterday. Hunter and Ty played high school football together and have been good friends. Hunter is called to serve in Taiwan, and Ty and Hunter (oh that's a little confusing...since we have a brother Hunter!) plan on going to school together when they both return home. Hunter is in Ty's building and he said he'll keep an eye on him until he leaves! He said Hunter enjoyed the first day there, and if he enjoyed the first day there, he'll do great and will have nothing to worry about because the first day is the hardest!

 

Specifically, Aldste Haddon said he wanted to share that in the MTC he learned that he doesn't know much about anything be he does know he loves the people of Sweden and feels blessed to be able to get to know them and serve and teach them as much as possible.

And, he loves and misses everyone back home!

Happy New Year!

This week was pretty much run of the mill for Aldste Haddon in the MTC....

Here are some of the main points he did share:

1. He gets his travel plans for leaving for Sweden next week...he's both excited and nervous and as of right now is supposed to leave on January 22nd.

2. Along with a lot of new 18 year old elders, the young 19 year old sisters are coming in to the MTC, and he said that things are crowded, but they're so focused on the work it doesn't matter! It's just good to see so many people excited about the work!

3. He feels sad for those who are struggling in the MTC but feels blessed to be doing so well and to be able to enjoy his time learning and living in the MTC.

Lastly, I asked him what he'd like shared on the blog specifically and he said:

"I love and miss everyone ha sorry I don't have much this week ha i will try to think of something beautiful next week!"



So let's all just cross our fingers for next week's "beautiful words"! Happy New Year everyone! And as always, thank you for your love and support!

6 Weeks Down...4 to go!

This has been a fun week for us because we've been able to hear from Aldste Haddon twice with Christmas and pday! He said that Christmas was good, and he REALLY appreciates all of the fantastic mail and emails he has been receiving from everyone! He has seen friends come into the MTC and leave while he's still there learning Swedish! He's getting better and better at it, but until he's in Sweden, it's hard to really get the hang of it.

 

Homesickness and anxiety among other Elders has been heartbreaking for him to watch, he prays daily for those struggling along side him, and although he faces his own trials as well, he knows everyone will be blessed for their efforts. He also said that the first wave of 18 year old elders has hit the MTC, things are crowded and it has added a different dynamic to learning, but it's great to see so many people willing to serve.

 

Here are the pictures he has sent home for this week as well!

 

Thanks again for all of your prayers, love and support! He can feel the strength from each of you and from our Father in Heaven!

 

 This is a fellow Elder opening the "gift" Ty gave him: