hello hello hello

beautiful örebro

HI FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so grateful that I get to write to you today! We have been sitting at the church for an hour trying to get on our emails but myldsmail.net was down! I was worried I couldn't write you today! Well- mostly that I couldn't read the wonderful letters you sent to me- but I am happy that we waited because it started working! n e ways... This week was wonderful. It has been rainy and dark all week long- I think after the dark winter, I was expecting this summer to be really warm and sunny but the rain has brought back a lot of memories of last summer- walking in rain storms that would come and go at random times everyday. I have learned to ALWAYS have my umbrella on hand as well as a rain jacket. :)

This week was maybe not the most successful investigator wise- we had a lot of cancellations and we were also in Stockholm for two days! On Wednesday we got permission to go to the temple and on Thursday we had our last conference with President and Sister Newell. We worked as hard as we could the other days but the number of lessons and contacts we received wouldn't show for it. Sister Lowe and I have been talking a lot about how grateful we are that the gospel teaches us in every part of our lives, that all we need to do... is ALL we can do. When we do all that we can do, then the rest is up to the agency of others.

go olympus! elder hansen is my zone leader!

We had one investigator come to church on Sunday. Her name is Ann Britt and she is a little older. I went up to her to say hi and she would not make eye contact. I thought maybe she just didn't hear me, so I bent down by her and put my hand on her knee and asked her how she was doing and she started yelling at me! She said "I am so mad at you! You came to my house last week and you didn't eat the cake that I gave you!" I tried explaining that I can't eat gluten and that I had explained that to her at her house- but she would not hear it. Sister Lowe is allergic to milk so she couldn't eat it either- oops...  -_-

On Saturday morning we were out the door at 10:00 a.m. on the nose. We walked in the rain to swing by an investigator who told us we could come back on Sunday. We only had an hour before we had to be at the church so we decided to just walk back home, grab some lunch and then go to the church. We walked back and as we were approaching our apartment building we saw an old man leaning against a tree. He looked like he was about to fall over so Sister Lowe ran over to him and grabbed onto his arm. We helped him sit down and asked him if he needed help. We asked him what he was doing and he said that he was trying to find his house (which was about 15 minutes away by bus). He was carrying a plastic bag filled with his "precious items" (a razor, a couple soap bottles, some garbage, rocks, and flowers that he picked). 

our new friend

He had his name and address written on his wristband so we assumed that he was "escaping" from the old folks home. We asked him how old he was and he said 85... no 75. We called the police and they told us that his address was to an old folks home- so we waited with him for about 45 minutes until they came and picked him up. He was so cute. He kept repeating himself and picking up rocks and putting them in his pockets. We asked him again how old he was and he said "20... :) no... 50." He was so confused! He told us that it was a Saturday in November. I think Saturday was a lucky guess. He randomly said "I run with the horses everyday." And we were like "wow- everyday huh?" We were happy that we were able to help him- and we knew that he was the reason we needed to go back to our apartment to grab some lunch.

Our last meeting with President and Sister Newell was amazing. I have learned so much from them and I am so so grateful for all that they have taught me and done for me. I miss them already. President Newell helped me so much during the hardest time on my mission. His priesthood blessings and interviews have been so personal and so strengthening. He truly is one of the greatest examples of our Savior that I know. He helped me to understand my purpose and my potential as a missionary- for which I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL! And so did Sister Newell. Her training and love to the Sisters will always stay near to my heart- I could probably fill up a whole journal of notes and advice from her that have helped me along on my mission.

Sister Newell talked to us at the last meeting about the JOY that comes from the gospel. She pointed out that before we came to this earth, we knew that living the gospel would have it's challenges, but we also knew that we could endure joyfully... and that joy should show in ALL of our actions. It should show in the hard times as well as the wonderful and happy times. How do we show joy in the hard times? For me, it is by continuing to live as a disciple of Christ. To continue to serve, lift, and love. I see so many of the members, whose lives are not easy, continue to be an example of the Savior. To me, these people are so beautiful and joyful because they understand what it means to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They understand that their own needs and circumstances should not go before others´. I too want to be an example of the Savior at all times- in all of my actions. I want people to see that I am so full of joy because I am living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have found that when we are doing what the Savior would do, it becomes so much easier to find happiness in the simplicity of everyday life as well as in the trials.

This month I have been working on the attribute Knowledge. This, to be honest, was one that I was just trying to do to get it over with. I didn't understand how I could magnify my knowledge in the gospel and how it could help me be more like the Savior. But I did learn a simple principle this week as I read D&C 90:15-16. It says "And study and learn and become acquainted with all good books and with languages, tongues, and people. And this shall be your business and mission in ALL your lives."

elders i was with in halmstad

I love this scripture. I think it is saying to BE A LIFE LONG LEARNER. I think being a life long learner is what keeps us curious and humble. It helps me to be more teachable- to see that learning from others is an opportunity for growth... If we view learning or being taught as any other way- then it's source is rooted in pride. Our pride does not allow us to be learners. It says that we are not good enough if we didn't already know what is being taught. I want to be a life long learner. There is never a time in our lives where we should not be learning and growing. I learn so much everyday. From my companions, members, investigators, my parent's letters, books, scriptures, talks etc. We are so blessed to be able to have so many great sources around us to learn from.

elder cushing is Spencer Christensen's best friend!

I LOVE YOU ALL. BE FULL OF JOY! I hope you have a wonderful warm week. I miss you and love you so much xoxoxo

sis c

m i d s o m m a r

 
What the what? HENRY IS (almost) ON HIS WAY! I am sure that both him and Lil did such a great job speaking. They are the best!!

I am still LOVING it here in Örebro. It is a big city (compared to what I have been in) and I love it. There are buses that we would normally take everywhere but we try and walk most places. The weather has been a little chilly but when the sun comes out it is SO beautiful. Our apartment is cute and simple- it is a perfect size and we have a good kitchen which is fun because we both love to cook. And we did a whole lot of cooking this week for Midsommar. We made a delicious potato salad and a million chocolate chip cookies (mom's recipe) and EVERYONE loved them and asked for the recipe. We go running every morning and we are so blessed to have a HUGE forest right in back of our house with a lot of different running trails and hills to run up and down. IT'S AWESOME and soooo beautiful. I get excited to go running every morning just to be out in the trees.

Every Monday night we do Family Home Evening with the young single adults and last Monday we asked our investigator, Adama to come teach us African dancing. He had never been to the church before and we thought it would be a great way to get him to the church so that he knew where it is and could meet some of the members. He was SO happy and excited to come and teach us. At first everyone seemed to be pretty nervous. It was about 10-15 shy Swedes who did NOT want to dance but after a while they warmed up and everyone LOVED it. They asked Adama if he could come back next month to do it again. It was perfect and so much fun. 

We had a wonderful Midsommar celebration at the Keann's- the bishops house. The bishop is from America and he served his mission here in Sweden and got married to his wife shortly after. They have the cutest family and cutest house and the mom is HILARIOUS. I love her. 

We spent all day playing, eating, dancing, singing. It was a blast. It was a no proselyting day and the next day we couldn't proselyte until three p.m. so we went with the Keanns again to go on a hike and have lunch. We also helped their daughter who is married and lives near them, paint her sons room. It was a fun but exhausting two days! We are excited to get back on track with the normal missionary schedule :). 

Right now we have about eight investigators who are really positive. We meet with all of them every week and we are hoping to get some baptismal dates this week! WOOT. Here are some of my thoughts that I was thinking about this week...

Most of the people who are "truly humble and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and find truth" (Doc. & Cov. 97:1) are those who are suffering with some kind of trial or heartache in their lives. Most of the people we meet with are struggling and are trying to find peace and comfort- to know that there IS a God and there IS a reason and purpose to living on this earth. In the scriptures, we are told many times to "not be troubled, not to fear, and to let our hearts be comforted." We wish that this was easier to do- but it is probably something that is easier said than done. In Doc. & Cov. 101:4-5 it says "therefore they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified." Or we could make that last verse a bit more positive and say "for all those who do endure chastening and believe in me, will be sanctified." 

We all have to go through trials. It is our trials that makes us humble and makes us stronger. In Doc. & Cov. 98 God tells us in vs. 12 that we are going to be chastened and tried, and then in vs. 18 he says let not our hearts be troubled and in vs. 23- that we should bear all things patiently. (If you can't tell, I've been doing a lot of Doc. & Cov. reading... :)) I love the comfort that I get in knowing that we are meant to have trials and that IF we endure them well, we will be blessed and sanctified. 

This week we went to a family's house who are less active. The mom and dad both have a little bit of a disability as do their five children. They live about an hour and ten minutes away by car so the senior couple that are here with us in Örebro, the Browns, were very kind to drive us there and help us out. We made homemade pizza dough and bought all of the ingredients to make the family pizza for dinner. We arrived, went in, had a little lesson and then had everyone help us put the pizzas together and put them in the oven. Their house was messy, the little baby's' hair was not brushed and she had dirty clothes on. The little boys teeth were rotten and falling out and they had animals running all over. Sister Lowe and I were both pretty stressed getting everything done with everyone standing in the tiny kitchen together trying to help out.

Once the pizzas were in the oven, everyone went into another room and I walked in to see The Browns sitting there with smiles on their faces, holding these little children and listening to the mother tell a story about when their house caught on fire and their oldest son was trying to help all of the kids and animals out and he died from the smoke. I stood there listening and I looked around at this sweet family and I noticed a big sign hanging on their wall that read:

"Peace be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10 

I had so much love in my heart for this family and it was then that I realized that all that they need is to be loved. We went in and got the pizzas out of the oven and had a wonderful time eating and sitting and talking. I thought about that scripture hanging on their wall all night and when I got home I read the hymn: "Master the Tempest is Raging" and I loved these lines, 

Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be, no waters can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies. 
They all shall sweetly obey thy will: peace be still, peace be still... Linger, o blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more, and with joy I shall make the blest harbor and rest on the blissful shore. 

famous ice cream place :)

 I know that this is the message we are bringing to others. To be still and believe and trust in God and in His son. Because it is truly THROUGH them that we are sanctified. Through their love and comfort we are able to endure our trials patiently so that we can be saved. 

So many people, as dad wrote to me today, are struggling with the History of the church. We are specifically working with one boy who is 16 years old who has been reading some Anti-Mormon things online. His parents are so sad and he has decided that the church is not for him. We went over to their house for dinner last night and we decided to talk about faith. It is the first principle of the gospel and is so simple- and yet it can so easily be destroyed if we are not constantly doing the small and simple things to strengthen our testimonies everyday. When we are struggling to know the truth- we need to go back to the basics... Sister Lowe said something yesterday that I loved, she said "sometimes we need to figure out a simple truth that we believe in and then hold on to that truth." For her, she knows she has a Heavenly Father who loves her so she is holding onto that truth. For me, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that he died for ME. I hold onto that belief and I know that as I strive to do the little things everyday to feel of my Savior's love, that my testimony will become stronger.

We need to remember that the church is filled with imperfect people. We are all just trying to do and be the best we can be. We make mistakes. We sin. But we also forgive and know that we can be forgiven. I will end by sharing what dad wrote to me in His letter... He said " I don't want you to ever think that the church is better than it is. It is filled with average people, nice people, mean people and great people. It is filled with sinners. And some of these folks have done things that bring shame on themselves and on the church. And sometimes these sinners sit in the high councils of the church and sometimes they sit in the critic's chair and throw stones. But the church is also filled with vibrant answers to life's most difficult questions. It holds many of the keys to happiness. We can have our burdens lifted in this church by the promises of the Savior and by our own diligent efforts, along with occasional grace from other sinners. The principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are principles to live by, no matter how imperfectly the church stumbles and fumbles along because the people trying to advance the ball on the field happen to be sinners. On days like today I am always reminded how grateful I am to be numbered among so many sweet, good hearted, good willed people. Optimism and hope are a much better formula for happiness and love for others than the alternatives out there." 

I love being among the humble, sweet, good hearted people. I also love being among the sinners because we are ALL sinners. We are all imperfect. We all make mistakes because we are human! I find so much peace and comfort in the scripture hanging on that family's wall- peace be still and know that God is an all knowing God. He is there and He has a plan for us. We don't need to know or understand everything! We just need to be patient- and know that everything will be okay.

I love you all! Have an awesome week!
puss o kram,
Adel

Örebroooo

HI HI HI.... 

First of all- I forgot to say so many things last week and I feel so bad!! HAPPY GRADUATION FOR HENRY! (sorry that was a little late -_-) I canNOT believe he is off to the MTC in three weeks. That is unreal. I am so excited for him to go and experience mission life!! But when I really think about it, I am so sad that we will not be seeing each other for three and a half years. So I will just try hard to not think about it. :) Also-- Happy Birthday to Jake and Jeni and Camille and Laura and Nana! I hope I didn't miss anyone... And last but not least HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my favorite Daddin. I love you so so much. 

This week has been an adventure! It has also been very long because of the transfer. I got all packed up on Tuesday night and my suitcases were SO heavy and HUGE. hahaha I just collect more and more as I travel around.. but I did leave some things behind that I have had and worn every week for the past 15 months. They were all well-used :). Emi and I spent our last night together doing a little party which consisted of playing 'don't let the balloon touch the ground' with the light up balloons that mom sent me for Valentines day. We laughed and laughed and laughed. We had so much fun in those six weeks and it was sad to say goodbye but we were both so happy and grateful that we WERE ABLE to be with each other for six weeks. We never thought it would happen! It was a blessing to have her- she came at the right time and really helped me love Katrineholm more. PLUS I am the STL over her so I will see her at Sister Meetings and I can go on splits with her! yay. 

Goodbye to Emi and Katrineholm!

Wednesday was so stressful! hahaha I am sure that I made it a lot more stressful than it needed to be but I was so nervous about taking my big bags on the train by myself, getting them off, dragging them to another train and getting them on and off again. The transfer wasn't long- maybe an hour and a half - but my heart was racing the whole time and I just kept praying and praying that everything would work out. And it did. A nice old man helped me find a place to set my suitcases on the first train. When I got off of that train, the lady next to me grabbed my other bag and smiled at me and helped me off. And as I went underground to find my next spår (track?), a man from Syria who had just moved here two weeks ago, offered to help me pull my bags up the big hill. I was so so grateful. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. I couldn't have done it without those wonderful people. They were blessings to me. 

I made it to ÖREBRO!! When I came here on splits last month, I immediately fell in love with the city. AND before transfer calls were made, I had a feeling that I would come here and when President called, it felt so perfect. 

When I arrived, I felt like I was home. I have only been here for about five days and I just absolutely LOVE it! I love the people and feel like I already know them. They are so welcoming and friendly and funny. I love the cobble stone streets and the shops and the tall buildings. Its beautiful. I love our church building- it's white with a red roof like the church in Halmstad! 

all four missionaries. Elder Held is from Denmark and so he says my last name how it should really be said hahaha

The work here is SO different than anything I have ever experienced. We don't even have time to go tracting! And we hardly have time to contact people along the way because we are always running from one lesson or activity to another! It is unreal. It feels like I am doing something wrong because the work has never been like this for me! Haha. Change is always weird and different but we need change. My mission has really taught me to be comfortable with it- which is good because life is always changing. And we as people are always changing. 

AAAANNNDDD- Last but not least... I LOVE MY COMPANION. Sister Lowe is my twin. We have the weirdest things in common and she reminds me SO much of my mamma. I am so happy to be with her for the next five weeks. She goes home on July 24th. -- We work hard and have so much fun. 

This week was the high school graduation so we got to see the kids drive around in tractors again. I remember watching it a year ago in Kristianstad with Sister Swenson... it's pretty hilarious and a fun tradition but also sad- EVERYONE drinks and smokes. Some of the guys put beer in a squirt gun and sprayed it on everyone... we ran for our lives hahaha. 

We contacted a guy named Miguel on my first day here. He is from Columbia and we met with him the next day. He said that he had met missionaries before and that they brought him and his parents to see the temple and told him about Joseph Smith. He is very positive and he said that he would really like to know if this is true. We set up an appointment to meet with him twice this week! Our other investigators are awesome and I am excited to work with them. The Elders had a baptism on Saturday! His name is John and he is from Pakistan. He reminded me a lot of Shakeel and he bore the sweetest testimony at the end. He was just so grateful and happy to become a member. It was pretty cute.

Yesterday at church, I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting and introduced myself. I talked about how I decided to serve a mission. How I thought and prayed about it but that it wasn't until I decided that a mission was NOT for me- that I got my answer. I think it is interesting that God answers our prayers this way- most of the time. He wants US to act. To weigh out the options and then to choose. And once we make our decision it will either feel right or wrong. Once I told dad that I did not want to go- I couldn't stop thinking about it and knew that I really did need to go. 

I then shared the story of filling out my papers and how I knew that I was going to serve in Sweden. I ran into the kitchen and said "dad, I think I am going to serve in Sweden." It just felt right and it was :). I talked about being the 7th generation to serve here and about Peter Forsgren. 

Peter Forsgren

Afterwards, so many people came up to me and talked to me about it. They thought it was amazing. One man, who is the Stake Patriarch, came up and told me that when he visited Salt Lake he stayed at Bob Forsgren’s house! Well, that is my guess. He said he doesn't remember the first name but that it was a Forsgren from Peter's side. It's a small world. Other members came up and told me different stories about Peter and John Forsgren. It was awesome and made me feel so connected to these people. 

4 generations of Swedish Missionaries: Bob Forsgren, Reed Forsgren Christensen, Douglas Forsgren Christensen and Adelide

I am so grateful to be here. It feels too good to be true. Really! I keep thinking that I am going to get a call to transfer soon because I feel too blessed to be here. But I mostly so happy that I get to work here. I love this work. I see miracles everyday and answers to my prayers everyday that remind me that the gospel is true. That remind me of why I am here and of what this message can do for so many. We have an awesome week planned and I am excited for MIDSOMMAR! 

I love you all. Thank you for your letters and love and support every week. It means the world to me. Emailing and hearing about your wonderful life never gets old. I look forward to it every week. BE HAPPY. xoxo 

Syster Lowe LOVES meat!!

bye bye bye
Adleidelioloui.

P.S. Please tell henry and lillie thank you and PAPA he is the best letter writer! And I dont have time to write handwriittten this week--- sryryyy we are so busy- seriously the work is unreal! There is a gluten free crepe place here and so many shopping malls and a vegetarian buffet etc etc its so fun and today we are going shopping so i might get some shirts if that is okay i promise i wont go crazy. :))))))) We are also going to ikea! Fun. OKAY BYESJÖLKJSFLLÖÖ

pennybridge

FRIENDS--

I hope you are enjoying yourselves in LP (Lake Powell)! I just looked at the weather there and it said that it should be 97--- wow that is HOT!! Today in little Katrineholm it is very sunny but this week has been on and off rain storms... typical Sweden summers- I remember getting caught in many rain storms last summer- I learned to always have my rain coat and an umbrella in my bag. :) But whether its raining or snowing or burning hot- there really is no such thing as bad weather on the mission. If there was, we would sit inside and complain and ain't nobodys got time for that. I'm grateful that I have learned to work hard in the wind, rain, darkness, and sunshine. 

It is always surprising how early the sun comes up and how late it goes down. I think it is down for a total of five hours and then it's up again. It took a while getting used to this year- I keep waking up at 4:30 thinking that we have slept in! But it is such a blessing to be able to wake up to the light- it makes me excited every morning to get outside. We have been running a lot with Myriam and Paoline in the mornings and we walk EVERYWHERE because the buses are very unreliable. We love it. 

I cannot believe how fast this week went. It was a wonderful week. We had our last interviews with President Newell this week. He gave me a blessing and it was a very tender and spiritual moment for me. He said exactly what I needed to hear and I really felt so strongly that the words he was saying were so personal and just for me. I am so sad that the Newell’s are leaving us at the end of the month- but mostly I am so grateful for all that they have done and for how they have inspired and helped me along this journey. They truly are amazing people whom I look up to so much. 

Marita and Åke

WELL- here is the big news. I am leaving KATRINEHOLM! This area has a special place in my heart. It has been the hardest and most challenging area, but I would not trade out a single day... I have learned so many wonderful lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Lessons of patience, perseverance, and humility. I have learned more Arabic, Persian, and Somalian... I have learned how to be happy when it is hard... I have learned to love the area and its' beauty although it doesn't have tall Swedish buildings or beautiful art pieces all over. Katrineholm is actually known as the "armpit of Sweden" :) --but I don't see it that way. I see it as an area with wonderful people who have many challenges and who choose to be happy and keep moving forward. The people make this area beautiful. They are simple and they love their trees and big grass fields and lakes. They appreciate natural beauties and so do I. Because they come from God and remind us to be grateful for the little things. 

We took E to dinner this week

We attended an institute lesson this week- The teacher is Marita- the Branch Presidents wife. I don't think I have ever mentioned her before-- she is hilarious. Just a little ball of energy. She has a very funny personality and likes everything to be her way... And she has had some conflicts with the missionaries in the past because of it- but I feel like I was really able to connect with her. She has kind of been my little friend while I've been here. She has helped us do an hour of Family History work every single week since I have been in Katrineholm, she has helped me with my Swedish and has taught me a lot of valuable lessons like how hot the temperature should be when you wash dirty rags. (I didn't do it hot enough so the church rags still looked dirty) haha. 

The lesson was on the last couple chapters in the Book of Mormon. She talked about chapters 7-10, which are all amazing but I loved our conversation about chapter 8. We were talking about why children (under 8 years old) that die, don't need to be baptized. Marita talked about how they are so pure that they will go straight to the celestial kingdom. This reminded me of  something that mom told us when we were little- that Lillie and others with disabilities were so pure that they will go to the celestial kingdom. I remember that meaning a lot to me as a little girl and it helped me to see Lillie and others with more love. I shared that with Marita and expressed how grateful I was that God has such a perfect plan for each of His children. 

Marita started tearing up and she said "I believe that they didn't need this Earth life to become more perfect like the rest of us but that they CHOSE to come here for the rest of us... They could have gone straight to the celestial kingdom but they were asked in the pre-earth life "Will you go to Earth? Not for your own growth or development but for your parents?' (for Hannah? for Adelide? and for Henry?)" As I thought of that, I got big tears in my eyes and thought to myself... I am so blessed to have Lillie in my life! 

Because I NEED HER so that I can become who God wants me to become. She is so incredible and pure and I love thinking that she chose to come to Earth even though she knew it would be hard... and she knew the challenges she would face and yet... she came. And she knew she could do it and she wanted to do it for us. That thought has helped me wake up every morning feeling so happy and grateful to get to work and share this message to others... Just thinking of how hard Lillie works everyday to be happy and to accomplish hard things. I am so proud of her for improving her grades this last semester and for waking up early everyday to go to school. I just... I am really just so grateful for her and the life she lives. She is a pure and perfect example, just as little children are... of being like our Savior. 

we celebrated national swedish day with a bbq :)

I have been thinking a lot this week about WHY we all get so angry, bugged, and irritated so easily. My thoughts are that it is because we turn inward. . . We think about ourselves before we think about why others do or say the things they do. If we all were a little more understanding then we would not become so frustrated or angry or irritated. Understanding others and situations would really help us to not act out. Of course it is easier being said than done, but it is something that we could all work on- especially me. 

On Friday night we rode our bikes along a long and beautiful road to a dinner with the Swedish/Japanese family. It was a lovely night with good conversations and beautiful scenery. But the next day we woke up with 20+ Mosquito bites on our legs and ankles. (both Emi and I)...  We looked like we had the chicken pocks and they were so itchy. In the middle of the night Emi was up in the bathroom and I was wide awake scratching like crazy and when she came out I said "Emi... what are you doing about the legs?" and she said "I am putting cold rags on them." hahaha we were in so much pain and we laughed about it a lot the next day because we were so tired but we were wide awake from the bites... We tried everything to get them to go down- itch cream, hot metal spoons, cold rags, hot heating pads... we were so swollen and so red. It was pretty hilarious. 

We went to church yesterday looking like we had a disease and the members were all trying to help us out. One of the Elders gave us two benedryl and we took them after church and barely made it home before we crashed. We were out for two straight hours with out moving. I even fell asleep holding a piece of gluten free pizza in my hand. HAHAHA. I woke up in a full body sweat because I have never slept during proselyting time before and it made me so anxious!! But I don't know what else we would have done. I guess it was needed because I had a deep sleep all night last night. Our bodies had an allergic reaction but they seem to be going down today. SO: ALL IS WELL. :D 

I am so happy that Grace is training! As I read her words in her email, it brought back so many memories of training back in October. It was a challenging experience but it taught me so so much. I often wish that I could do it again because now I know the language a little better, I am a little better at teaching and at not getting so stressed- but I wouldn't be "a little better" if I hadn't gone through the experience of training. 

michaela- she has five cats

I can't believe this will be my LAST area on my mission! I am going to a city called ÖREBRO (translated to english: pennybridge). I am going to be a Sister Training Leader with Sister Lowe who was in Sister Swenson's group. She is going home in July so I will "kill her." I am so excited and grateful to end my mission this way- going all out. I have never had a companion "older" than me in the mission (besides Swensie when she was training me after only being in the field for TWO months! hahaha I still can't believe that we (she) pulled that off), and I have also never been in a bigger city! So I am very excited. I went on splits to Örebro not to long ago and it is BEAUTIFUL. I am so lucky and blessed. 

I love these two scriptures on Missionary work: "Let they heart be of good cheer before my face, and though shalt bear record of my name, not only unto the Gentiles, but also unto the Jews (TO ALL) and thou shalt send forth my words unto the ends of the Earth." D&C 112:4 and "But purify your hearts before me, and then go ye into all the world and preach my gospel unto EVERY creature who has not yet received it." D&C 112:28. 

I am so grateful that I have been called to this work. I love you all. Have a wonderful week in the sun!

xoxo bye bye