A New Zone Leader

Aldste Haddon is being transferred once again, this time to be called to be a zone leader (a missionary over a large area of missionaries in Sweden) and moved to a city that has had a lot of struggles with having Mormon Missionaries there, so it will likely be a challenge but Aldste Haddon is looking forward to the experience and getting to know yet another awesome companion!

(This is his 5th city in Sweden in 8 months)

This week has been hard but good for him. He was SUPER sick on Friday (stomach flu) and he tried to go out and work anyway.... the only detail we got about that was that it "wasn't pretty" so after he got over the bug they were back to hitting the pavement.

He is very sad to be saying goodbye to all of his friends in his current city but he knows that Heavenly Father has called him to serve where he is most needed and where he will grow the most.

Click here to learn about being called of God

As his family, we have seen so much change in Aldste Haddon and we know that this is the place for him at this time of his life. He loves the Lord and is willing to sacrifice to serve Him. He knows that this is the restored gospel that Christ brought to the earth so long ago and he feels blessed to be able to have that knowledge and share it all over the world.

Sorry it took me EXTRA long to post today! Tanner and I are becoming licensed foster parents and it is requiring A LOT of changes to our house...today has been major chore day!



Blessings of the Priesthood

Things have been going fairly well for Aldste Haddon in Sweden.

They have an awesome friend there who always feeds them on Tuesday nights at 8pm...not 8:03, not 8:01, 8PM. Well the other day, they took the wrong train and arrived at 8:06!!! After some gentle "threatening" from the man to take them out back and fight to the death, they had the best Chilean food as well as a great visit with him.

Aldste Haddon has also been told that he may be transferred again in the coming week so they have really amped up their efforts to get the members in the ward actively involved in missionary work. They have begun organizing visits and monthly family home evenings that include both members and investigators so that they can get to know each other and learn the gospel together.

They also have been trying to teach people who are already baptized but have lost the desire to attend church. Recently they have been working with a man who has recently been diagnosed with leukemia...here is the story in Aldste Haddon's words:

 "Well sadly he has been diagnosed with Leukemia, and things were going badly for him. We came over once and he told us how he is going to have an operation really soon, where they can try to get rid of the Cancer and prolong his life. They said it is very risky and he will have to use many types of chemotherapy, which always has not the greatest side-effects. I asked him if he would like a blessing. His face lit up, he said he would love that. He pointed to me and asked me to do it.

As I was giving this blessing I felt so calm and I only said the things of my heart, at one point I told him, “The operation is going to go well, it is going to be very difficult but you but you will get better through your faith in Jesus Christ, and you will be a strong member of the church once again.” I do not know why I said that, all I know was that it was from the spirit. The doctors said he frankly doesn't have much time left. But I knew it felt right.

Its been several weeks since the blessing and the operation, he has fought of the cancer almost completely and had a very hard time throughout. We visited him in the hospital last night and he just looked at me and cried, “Through the pain and suffering and all I have gone through, all I could remember was that blessing that you gave me. I knew in my heart I would be alright. I also have learned how much Christ really loves me.” He is going home in a couple days, and he told me that he will be coming back to church, there is no question about that.

I just want to say I know that the Priesthood really is God's power that he has entrusted with men. I am glad to be worthy to have it. I just want to thank you all again for all the wonderful emails and the love that I feel through them.  I love you all, and see you on the flip-side!"

Click to hear from Elder Oaks about Healing the Sick

 How the Turkish fly everywhere:

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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Another baptism

Aldste Haddon's favorite quote of the week....

“So...... the Bishop is going to drown me in the water?” Bishop then replying, not knowing any English, “Yes!”

Click to learn about: Baptism by immersion

This week they had a baptism and he said that it was an amazing experience. The spirit was so strong. The man they baptized speaks English so he didn't understand very much of it, but Aldste Haddon repeated everything to him in English. The amazing thing is, even though you don't speak the language, you can still feel the Holy Ghost when truths are being shared and when someone is testifying of the Savior.

He said the bishop was so excited to baptize him but had never said the prayer in English, so he said the prayer, missing a few words and Aldste Haddon was about to tell him to try again but before he knew it, Bishop had picked him up and threw him under the water before he could say anything and smiled the biggest smile in search of approval. He even splashed some of the people watching the baptism! 

This week, our Grandpa Larry passed away. Aldste Haddon was of course very saddened by this event but he shared that this is exactly why he is serving a mission. He wants everyone to know that we, as families, can be together forever. Grandpa Larry was an amazing man, he loved the Lord and he loved his family. Of course he will be missed, but it is such a blessing to know that families are forever and that this is not the end of our journey with him. We don't say good bye, just see you later and that is a great comfort.

The rest of our family was able to travel to Oregon this past weekend to be able to attend the funeral and spend time with family. It was a great experience to see everyone and to remember Grandpa's life. He was a jokester and his fun personality will always be the way we remember him.

Thank you for your love and prayers on behalf of Grandpa Haddon and of course, Aldste Haddon!

Blessings of Freedom

This week, Aldste Haddon got another new greenie fresh off of the plane. He said he's a super smart, talented missionary so he is very hopeful that the two of them will be able to work together well and be successful companions.

They have been working with an investigator who recently moved from another country. The man told the story that he was on a train in his home land and was wearing a cross necklace. When the police saw it and asked why he was wearing it, they asked him what is was for. When he responded it was because he loves the Savior they took him to the back of the train and began to beat him. It became clear that he wasn't going to survive the ordeal when they grabbed a gun to shoot him, so he jumped off of the back of the train. He shattered his legs and bashed in his skull but he survived. He was rushed to the hospital and then told of a place where he could believe how he wished. He was put on the next plane to Sweden. A couple of weeks later, the missionaries contacted him and began to teach him the lessons. After awhile, they lost contact of him. But, recently he called them at 1am and said that he had been roaming around Sweden in search of a job and had found one and was ready to receive the gospel. Aldste Haddon and his companion have been teaching him and he is getting baptized on Sunday after church.

This story reminds me of how blessed I am to be able to live the gospel and profess my beliefs as I wish. We are so blessed to have the freedoms that we do, sometimes I take it for granted and this has reminded me to try to live everyday with a more thankful heart. 

I pray that I will always have the courage that this man had, that no matter what, I will stand up for what I believe. He is already such an amazing example and disciple of Christ.

 Both of the companions Ty had trained

Thank you for all of your prayers for Grandpa Larry Haddon. His health has declined significantly and it doesn't look like our time left with him will be much longer. We appreciate your love and support.

Expecting...again!

Aldste Haddon is doing well! The man they baptized last week was given the Aaronic Priesthood this week and has been doing his family history work to prepare to take the names to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  Aldste Haddon is so excited to see him so eager to learn about the gospel and already begin temple work. It's one of those moments that really make all the sacrifices of missionary work worth it!

This week, they also continued to teach two other investigators who have scheduled baptism dates! They of course are working hard with these individuals to try to ensure that these dates stay firm.

Aldste Haddon has enjoyed working with is greenie. He is learning the language very quickly and is a steller missionary. But, this week he is being moved to the northern part of the city they are currently serving in and  Aldste Haddon will receive a new greenie fresh off of the plane and get to stay where he is currently located. He's thrilled to meet a new young man willing to serve and to be able to keep working with the investigators and members he has grown to love so much in the area!

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! We are happy to report another great week from Stockholm, Sweden mission!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and thoughts in Grandpa Haddon's behalf. He is being sent home this week and being set up with hospice care. We don't know how much longer he will have with us here on the earth, but we do know that we have learned so much from him and are grateful for his example and testimony that he has used to strengthen our lives. It is times like these that really remind us of how thankful we are for eternal families and the blessings that come from being sealed for eternity. This is why missionaries give so much, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn about eternal families!

Also, look for the new links on blog posts that will take you to LDS.org to explain the terms! I'll try to keep that feature updated from week to week!