home

So... the day came and now I am home. Its 4 am in Utah and I am exhausted, but I can’t stop thinking about what I would be doing at 12 pm in Sweden right now. I am happy to be home of course but it already feels as though it was all a dream which kind of scares me.

My last week as a missionary is one that I will never forget. We had a good last couple of days- tracting, contacting, packing, laughing, crying... sitting on my last bus and train rides, looking out of the windows at the beautiful city that I love... saying goodbyes, attending the Stockholm Temple, bearing testimonies, having my last interview with President Beckstrand, and waking up at 4:30 am to get to the airport. I felt content but also unsure and a bit nervous... 

The morning at the airport was stressful because our flight got changed last minute- But everything worked out and on our first 9 hour flight from Sweden to Chicago, I think we were all a little “slap happy” and I didn’t really have any emotions/couldn’t comprehend what was happening. We landed in America and one of the Sister Missionaries without thinking said “hej hej” to a flight attendant who answered back “hello” in the most American accent I have heard for a while and we all looked at each other in shock and a bit teary eyed realizing that we were not in Sweden any more... The airport was so loud and everyone seemed so rushed and that is when the emotions hit me... that this is all really over- that there were no more lessons to be taught in Swedish and that my missionary tag would soon be coming off. 

We boarded the plane to fly from Chicago to Arizona and I sat next to a man to the left of me and my MTC companion, Syster Hauglid on the right- It was fun to be with her on the flight home. I noticed the man sitting next to me, put a thing of mints called “Läkrol” on his table, which is a Swedish brand. I immediately knew that he was from Sweden so I began talking to him- he just so happened to be a professor from the Uppsala University and was attending a conference in Arizona. I knew at that moment that it was no coincidence that our flight plans had changed that day. I told him that I just lived in Uppsala and was given the most amazing opportunity to teach one last lesson in Swedish to a Swede. He took a Book of Mormon and we ended up talking about it for the next 3 hours. I opened up my scriptures to read for the next thirty minutes we had left and read this scripture in 3 Nephi 5:13- “I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, the son of God. I have been called of him to declare this word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” 

It was a peaceful confirmation that my mission is not over. I will always be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for a thoughtful and loving Heavenly Father who knew that I needed this experience. To be able to teach one more lesson as a missionary to a Swede who lives in the same city that I lived in. 

I am filled with so much gratitude. 

I love missionary work.

I love the gospel.

I loved my mission and I know that it will forever be a part of me and that I will continue to think of my experiences and feel the blessings from it everyday for the rest of my life. 

I am so grateful that I was welcomed home by my wonderful friends and family. 

It feels good to be here. It is going to be hard- I can already feel that but I know that it will be awesome. 

My cute mom and dad went to some serious work on my new room and I love it. I think that is what actually woke me up this morning- I just started bawling because I am so grateful for them and all that they have done for me over the past 18 months. And I don’t think that they are wanting me to be moving out any time soon :). It feels at home in this new house that I have never been to. It was so fun to sit with my little Lillie and sissy Hannah and just hold them. I love them so much. And it was so fun to sit in my room and talk face to face with my parents for hours. They are incredible people. 

Life is wonderful and filled with so many happy endings and beginnings- I know that this is where I am supposed to be. 

- l i d e.