It's all a deck of cards

Things are going well for Aldste Haddon in Sweden. They have two baptismal dates set for next week which is extremely exciting.

One of the men they have been teaching is from Iran, he has been smoking for 45 years and had really been struggling with quitting. They decided to teach him about priesthood blessings and the blessing and power of the priesthood. They had a member there translating for them who offered to give the blessing. Aldste Haddon said that the spirit felt there was incredible even though he didn't understand a word that was being said. After the blessing was over, the man turned to Aldste Haddon and his companion and said: "he's done smoking now." And the man hasn't had the desire to smoke since. It's amazing.

The other man they are working with is a stud, in proper missionary terms. He is having his son flown in for his baptism and when they first met him, they left him with a Book of Mormon of course, and by the next time they saw him he was almost to the end of Alma! That is pretty impressive, I don't know very many people that can read The Book of Mormon that quickly. Aldste Haddon loves him.

Here is the final story he shared, I don't think I could tell it any better....

"So I had a cool experience this week with first a member, then out in Stockholm. I was pretty stressed with all the things that have been happening but still doing my best. (Its not all that easy to whitewash, train and you've only been in the field for 6 months.(Classic Elder Haddon complaining about his situation. Sorry.)) But after P-day we had a member Dinner with an awesome family. He said somethings that really just clicked in my head how to do missionary work. One of which was finding. He said that our areas are like a deck of cards. In ever Deck they have good cards and bad. Our job is to to find those Aces (Prepared People.) They are in the deck you just have to flip some cards. He said how fast you find them is completely up to you. You have the option to just flip the deck as fast as you want. Go find the Aces.

I took that to heart. I then knew no matter where I was out there going to a lesson or whatever I need to be flipping the cards. So we were on a subway to an investigators house. I had that just pounding in my head. Flip the cards, Flip the Cards. So I looked down this extremely packed subway and saw a man who stuck out from the others. He was sitting next to some other people on the train. I had the thought in my head, “You can't just walk over there in the middle of the ride, you'll look super weird and it will be awkward, just stay where your sitting.” Then I realized, I am a missionary I am freakin weird and awkward. So I just looked at them and said in my head.

“Flip the dang card.”

Just got up and walked over sat next to him and tried to talk to him. He couldn't speak Swedish, only Spanish. But lucky for me I have a Spanish speaking companion. He taught him about the church gave him a Spanish book of Mormon. (We didn't think we were carrying one but we just happened to have one.) Going to meet with him soon. He's is defiantly an Ace.

I'm super excited to be out here and doing The Lords work, it is hard, but it is defiantly worth every second. Thanks for all the support, I love you all."



"New" missionary attire, and getting pretty good at chess

An Awkward Word of Wisdom?

Aldste Haddon's favorite quote of the week comes from his greenie:

“OK! Sorry next time I will teach about the right commandment.”

They were working with their investigator who has set his baptismal date for the first weekend in August and Aldste Haddon and his companion were planning on teaching about the law of chastity that week. So, Aldste Haddon told the investigator that it would be a sensitive and possibly awkward topic but it was a very important principle and with that his companion said:  ”when we keep the word of wisdom we can feel better so don't drink” Needless to say everyone was a little confused, but they worked it out and for only serving for two weeks, Ty is very impressed with his companion; he is picking up the language quickly and is doing a great job. Ty says that he's a stud if he ever saw one!

They had a pretty good week this week overall, earlier in the week Aldste Haddon felt impressed to call an investigator he had worked with in a previous area whom the elders (aldste's) there had lost contact with. When he called him, he said the man was very happy to hear from him and had some amazing experiences to share...He had had a dream that Heavenly Father came to him and the feelings of joy and peace that he felt were indescribable and he never wanted to wake up. Awhile later, he was working his security job when he saw a young woman tattered and torn and in terrible condition. He asked to take a bathroom break and went and prayed for her. He told Aldste Haddon that the spirit he felt on that bathroom floor was incredible and he felt so close to his Heavenly Father. Ty took that opportunity to teach him about the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ and that he can repent and return to his Heavenly Father someday. The conversation was filled with love and the spirit and he is sending the missionaries in that area to continuing teaching and loving this individual.

Aldste Haddon and his companion currently have 2 baptism dates set, the one posted about in the previous blog is doing great and Aldste Haddon loves him. He said he is a full Swede which is very rare to teach, they usually teach people who have immigrated to Sweden so it's very exciting to be working with a native born individual. The other investigator is also doing great and although we weren't given much info. about him, Aldste Haddon is thrilled to be able to teach not only investigators and his new companion!

 

It has been a good week and they are continuing to progress in the work in Sweden! Thanks for your love and support!

 

 

A quick update on our Grandpa Larry...he hasn't been able to stay awake for more than an hour and isn't very coherent when he is awake. He has been diagnosed with non hodgkin's lymphoma and they are still working toward finding why blood pools on his brain and a couple of other issues that he is experiencing. Grandpa has already survived leukemia while our dad was on a mission so we don't know how well his body will be able to fight yet another cancer, and if he will be willing to go through such invasive treatment again. So far, that is all we know, thank you again for your support.

Learn about the Word of Wisdom click the link and scroll down to read/watch a video about the Word of Wisdom
 



NEW area, NEW companionship, NEW baptismal date

What a crazy week it has been for Aldste Haddon in Sweden...

He has been called to be the district leader and a trainer of a new greenie fresh off of the plane, the new group of elders and sisters arrived from the MTC on Wednesday and that was also the first day Aldste Haddon stepped foot in his new area. He said that he picked his companion up and he asked him where they lived and Aldste Haddon said I don't know elder let's go find out togther so they carried their luggage through the city unti they found their new apartment together in a downpour no less! It took a couple of hours to find, but luckily they made it home before it had gotten too dark out.

They have since been working hard doing missionary work, they came across an awesome young man who was a self refferal looking for the truth. They have been teaching him and have set a baptism date for the first weekend in August and of course they feel thrilled and blessed at the opportunity and have really enjoyed getting to know this individual. He said that one evening they were talking and Tyson felt impressed to give him the biggest hug and reaffirm to him how important he is to his Heavenly Father. He said the spirit was strong and it was a great experience for all of them. He said that it is moments like those that make all of the hard times of walking through the rain with loads of suitecases worth it!

He really wants to thank everyone for your love and support, he can feel your strength and prayers for him even though he is a world away!

Also, our grandpa Larry Haddon (Our dad's dad) has fallen very ill, he was found having a seizure and passed out when grandma returned home from church yesterday. Late last night he opened his eyes for the first time, and has had an MRI. It appeared to be a brain tumor, but we have also been told that he possibly has contracted a virus that appears similar to brain tumors on MRI scans. They also think he might have blood on his brain. Of course, our hearts and prayers are focused in his direction and we appreciate your love and support as he is struggling with this scary turn of events.





The Aldste that trained Ty is on the left and the Aldste he is training on the right

Getting Ready to Train!

What a busy week it has been for Aldste Haddon...he has tried blood pudding (blood+flour=blood pudding), said goodbye to all of the people he loves in his area, met with the President, performed a bird funeral, had American pancakes to celebrate the 4th of July, and of course....taught the gospel.

So, where to I start...On Wednesday, Aldste Haddon gets to pack up and move to Jakobsberg, a city he has never been to before, pick up a brand new Elder fresh off of the plane and begin training and teaching in a new area. He said that when he met with president he said that all of the trainers would be in an area they knew except one...Ty said he thought in his head that that would really stink for that elder...then the mission president said Aldste Haddon! So he knows it's going to be a big adjustment and a huge learning curve, but he's' ready for it. He said that President Newell sat him down during their interviewing process and said never before have elders had to carry out as many tasks as the elders now leaving the office (planning an entire mission tour, organizing the trips of 50 missionaries arriving and an entire mission conference) and when he use to organize things like that in his job as an US Ambassador, they had a team of 30 highly trained people and President Newell was very happy with the job Aldste Haddon and the other elders performed. He offered to give Ty a letter of recommendation which would be huge coming from someone with his background. It was a big compliment. He has loved working with him in the office, and will miss it but is happy for the new challenge.

With leaving this week, Aldste Haddon said he has gotten very bold in his delivery with those he has been working with. He has borne a very strong testimony and challenged people to baptism right away and many have been feeling the spirit and accepting which he finds to be an exciting miracle. 

This week he was working with a man who is active in the gospel but who was saddened because his daughter was struggling with her testimony and beginning to leave the church. Aldste Haddon felt impressed to challenge the man to pray for his daughter to have spiritual experiences and a renewed testimony in the gospel. The man accepted the challenge. Aldste Haddon said that that Sunday was testimony meeting and half way through the meeting, a young woman came in and sat next to the brother. She later got up in the meeting and shared her testimony that she had been struggling with the gospel and had felt unsure of her testimony but had had amazing spiritual experiences the past week that testified to her that the church was true and she knew she was making the wrong choice to leave. After the meeting, the brother came up and cried all over Ty's suit (comes with the job) and was so over joyed about his baby girl. Ty was so happy to see such an amazing miracle in that family's life. The man whispered to Ty as he hugged him: 

"God really does answer prayers."

How true that is.

 As always my attempt to turn the pictures has failed me...not sure what the secret is, I've tried so many things!

...And a colorful district meeting

Aldste Haddon had quite the district meeting this week.... Here is how it went in his words...

 

"So last week was my First District meeting i was able to teach. It was probably the most nerve raking thing i have ever done. So In my District is the Assistants, President and Sister Newell, Lowry's (Former Stake President.) I had to teach about "Baptism." 

 

I first thought it would be cool to have a musical number or some sort of talent to bring the district get a little pump up going. My companion  plays a mean Recorder, and can beat box at the same time. So i thought i would be appropriate to have him do that and get the district all pumped up, So he played called to serve. It was probably the greatest thing my ears have ever heard.  Sister Newell thought it was quiet fun ha. 

 

But we kept going for it. I started to teach about the importance of Baptism and why we come here and try help people to the waters of baptism. We discussed the importance of it and it was going very well. Until I decided to through a little Haddon story in it. This is how it went. 

"So we had an experience in the Stockholm Ward where a man, who wrote himself out was trying to fight members and trying to break things in the building. I stopped him took him outside and he was just yelling terrible things about what he read on the Church. He read some"Unfavorable Material," started to scream at me saying "All you do is baptize people! Party, get a pat on the back from the president and you just move on." I thought about that a lot. Thinking..... Wow he is so right. We do that. (Their eyes opened up wider then i have ever seen.) I then said lets read about one of the Greatest missionaries in the Planet, I don't know if you've ever hear of him, his name is Ammon. (No one laughed.) I was reading about when he was just running around supper excited because of how many of his brothers he brought back to the lords fold. His brother Aron told him that he was boasting a little bit, But he was quick to say that its not boasting in myself, its boasting in my God. And he talks about how happy he was because they literally loose the bands of hell from 1,000's of his brothers.I then explained that is a pretty DANG good reason to be happy and to party, and get slaps on the back from the president." "

 

 

He is also moving to a new area this week to train, we don't know if he'll still be living in the mission office and working in a different area like his last transfer or if he'll be physically moving, but he'll be working with his good friend Elder Allsop so he's very excited. He gets to pick up the greenie and go to a new area...it's going to be crazy!

 

Thanks for emailing and supporting Aldste Haddon! We'll let ya know how greenie week goes!

Midsommer

This was a good week in Sweden for Aldste Haddon; it was Midsommer which means just how it sounds "MidSummer". All the Swedes get together and dance around a poll type thing and celebrate summer. All of the missionaries in Sweden were invited to attend the same event. Aldste Haddon was in charge of putting the pole together and even started a good old fashioned game of American Football. He said that all of the Swedes were looking at them like they were totally crazy, and only 4 of the elders had played football before so it was a little crazy but it was a lot of fun.

They also found a tiny little frog and decided it would be very funny to come up to Sister Newell (Mission President's wife) with it hidden and surprise her with the little fella. They got all ready, and had the frog hidden and went up to her to strike up a conversation. They then said they had something for her and once she said oh what is it, they felt they had the perfect invitation to introduce her and the frog. As they opened their hands, she just started laughing and said:

"I have 4 boys, nothing like that will ever phase me!

So, the prank of the day was a bit of a bust, but they had fun anyway.

On a more spiritual note, they have been working with a family from China who was very wealthy there and came to Sweden to grow their business. They invested all of their money into their restaurant here but their business was very poor and they began to be very worried that they would soon loose everything and have to move back to China with almost nothing left. Knowing their concern and how much this meant to the family, Aldste Haddon and his companion gave the mother a blessing. They didn't see the family for about a week, but when they returned to the restaurant, it was full for the first time and has remained full (he sent pictures) He testifies that Heavenly Father knows us and our needs and when we ask of Him in faith and real intent, we will be blessed.

This week Aldste Haddon got yet another new companion and it sounds like that is going well so far!

Thank you for reading about Aldste Haddon and for your support!

A Service Filled Week

Aldste Haddon said that their week has been full of service projects this week which has been great. One of the days, they helped a new convert family chop wood in the forest to build a house and afterwards they went to the ocean to have a natural organic meal. It was "grassy" but delicious. He said it then started raining and the family went crazy dancing in the rain and got even more excited when the double rainbow showed up; he said they quickly took that opportunity to bow out!

They are also working with a young football (soccer) player who is getting very close to baptism. He said that he always invites all of his African friends to come hear the "White Guys" or "Jesus Boys"! He's very hopeful and excited to be working with this young man.

Aldste Haddon also got to give a talk in sacrament meeting, he said it was pretty tricky to speak in front of 100 native Swedes in their native language, but he must have done OK! No complaints that we know of!

As always, Aldste Haddon wants to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and support!