Dear Momma,
It's been a week filled with all sorts of adventures. Last Monday night, Syster Kester and I were on our way to our last appointment when we came upon a moped lying in the middle of the road. We didn't see anybody around, so I hopped out of the car to move it, and then I heard someone screaming for help. We found the rider lying in a ditch about 30 feet from the road. We called an ambulance and flagged down other drivers to help, and he lost consciousness on us while we waited. Last we heard from the police before everyone left was that he was conscious again and should be okay. The people who stopped were great. There were a lot of people who pulled over to help. Swedes in general seem to be exceptionally helpful people. Even when contacting strangers on the street, they're very willing to be helpful until they realize we 'just' want to talk about religion. ;)
We've had some fun teaching appointments this week too. There's an older couple we're working on right now that's presenting us with some fun challenges. The husband has been investigating the church for FORTY-TWO YEARS, and I'm dang determined that it's not going to turn into 43. It's a little bizarre - they've changed their whole lives for the sake of joining the church, but they just won't actually JOIN. They've given up coffee and teas, they actually got married so that they could be baptized, they read the Book of Mormon, the Bible, AND the Pearl of Great Price together EVERY MORNING, he's been hung up on tithing for a long time, but we're finally making progress to get him over that too, they believe in the prophets - he can list all the latter-day prophets by year. (I know most members can't do that - I certainly can't...) But they won't get baptized because they don't want to be given responsibilities in the church. I'm confused as to what more they think they'd be asked to do than what they're doing already. Most members DON'T do as much as they've been doing. Anyway, now that they're on the brink of being baptized, they've convinced themselves that it's a bigger step to take than they'd thought (more like a cliff than a step), and they're scared. He tried to make a deal with us that turned out to work 'against' him, and it was pretty funny. They knew I had just arrived in Sweden two weeks ago, and I need Syster Kester to translate for me during discussions because I'm struggling to understand what other people say to me. So he promised he'd be baptized before spring if I would pray for him in Swedish right then. Little did he know, prayer's the one thing I CAN do well in Swedish. Haha! (It's a whole lot easier for me to speak Swedish than hear and interpret it right now.) So anyway, he set the terms. He made the promise. We're holding him to it.
We have a dinner appointment scheduled for tonight, and we were supposed to bring something 'American,' so we made an apple pie. (It doesn't get more American than apple pie, baseball, and Superman!) Sister Kester and I are also planning a Thanksgiving dinner for the branch. I doubt more than 4 people in the branch have heard of Thanksgiving, but that's okay because President Monson's conference talk on gratitude just provided us with the perfect excuse to introduce it. =)
Let Casey know that I love him, and I keep him in my prayers. I'm glad he did his best to get involved in soccer. Even if he didn't get to play, it's good that he had something to do during his free time. Maybe you could start out by letting him have friends over at our house? That would be easier to keep under control than him going out. I never really understood where we were supposed to go or what we were supposed to do when 'hanging out' anyway. Which is the main reason why I didn't do much of it as a kid. And as for Chynna, I definitely haven't dealt with such a rough roommate situation. Frankly, Mormon girls fail at being catty or nasty. They worst they can come up with is playing the 'silent game'. I'll be praying for her too.
Take care, Momma. I pray for you too. Ask Keira to give you and hug and a kiss for me, kay?
I love you.
Syster Hillary Kiser
P.S. The secretaries do know that my parents are divorced, and they have both your/Rich's information, and Dad's. They're not sure how the names and addresses got mixed, but they apologize for it.
And no, I haven't emailed Dad. I actually lost his email address. Could you ask him for it and send it my way, please?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sundsvall - Week 2
Hej, hej, Momma!
I'm loving my life! My companion Syster Kester and I keep pretty busy. We had about 22 teaches this week, which is REALLY amazing. (I know it doesn't seem impressive compared to Elder Propst's numbers, but it's really above the mark here. We had set a goal to teach 17, and we thought that was really high.) We're planning to set two baptismal dates this week, and have set a goal to try to get 4 more by the end of the month (bear in mind that the standard set by the mission is 1 baptism per 9 weeks), so we're really doing well right now.
The investigators we're setting dates for baptism for right now are amazing. Their names are Tobias and Leon and they came here from Africa to go to school. We found them when I first arrived, but they're absolutely ready to accept the gospel, so we're moving fast. They seemed to instantly recognize us as messengers from God. They've studied the Bible very diligently, and have already figured out so many things that we teach, but other churches don't. It's really cool to hear their 'theories', which are right more often than not.
As for the Muslim family we're teaching, stop worrying. They're a nice family: a mom, a dad, and two beautiful baby girls. They love God, and they enjoy having us over because they want to build understanding and friendship between people of different religions. Remember - every religion has its fanatics (including us), but they don't want to be judged for theirs anymore than we want to be judged for ours.
And as for avoiding danger, it's really not hard. The mission already has rules for just about every dangerous thing we could come up with to do. (Probably because someone made the rule necessary at one point or another.) As long as we're being obedient, we are safe. Obedience also assures that we can receive warning from the Holy Ghost - I've already seen that in action too. There has been an occasion already when my companion and I both felt prompted to leave an area right away. We know what it feels like when we receive a warning, and we do listen when they come. I promise, Momma, I'm the safest kid you've got. :)
There's a family here that makes me think of Rich a lot. The husband is from Scotland. I told him my step-dad had lived there for a while, and he wants to know if Rich has been to Edinburgh, which I think he said is in Livingston. Sometimes it shocks me when people old enough to be my parents or grandparents ask me for help; I forget that they see my name-tag and calling rather than my age. He asked me, "Did your stepfather ever have trouble with the kids not listening because 'You're not my dad?'" It seems to be a universal struggle. I'm seeing more and more how often we bite the hand that feeds us, especially as teenagers. I think there must be a special reward for people who take in and provide for children that are not their own, and only seem to be punished for it. I know Christ knows a lot about that too. He was certainly punished for loving others. I guess these hard things in our families could be a blessing in disguise because they give us something in common with the Savior.
I'm finally getting that letter i wrote in the MTC in the mail today, along with another if I can get it done. You'll probably have them in a week or so, but that's just a guess. I love you, and I can't wait to hear from you. Remember to pray and read, and take everything else easy. Actually, get on the church website and look up President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference last week, and then take his advice. I think it's wise counsel for our whole family right now. Except for me and Elder Propst, of course. Missionaries can rest when they get home. ;)
I love you very much. I know our Father in Heaven loves you too.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
I'm loving my life! My companion Syster Kester and I keep pretty busy. We had about 22 teaches this week, which is REALLY amazing. (I know it doesn't seem impressive compared to Elder Propst's numbers, but it's really above the mark here. We had set a goal to teach 17, and we thought that was really high.) We're planning to set two baptismal dates this week, and have set a goal to try to get 4 more by the end of the month (bear in mind that the standard set by the mission is 1 baptism per 9 weeks), so we're really doing well right now.
The investigators we're setting dates for baptism for right now are amazing. Their names are Tobias and Leon and they came here from Africa to go to school. We found them when I first arrived, but they're absolutely ready to accept the gospel, so we're moving fast. They seemed to instantly recognize us as messengers from God. They've studied the Bible very diligently, and have already figured out so many things that we teach, but other churches don't. It's really cool to hear their 'theories', which are right more often than not.
As for the Muslim family we're teaching, stop worrying. They're a nice family: a mom, a dad, and two beautiful baby girls. They love God, and they enjoy having us over because they want to build understanding and friendship between people of different religions. Remember - every religion has its fanatics (including us), but they don't want to be judged for theirs anymore than we want to be judged for ours.
And as for avoiding danger, it's really not hard. The mission already has rules for just about every dangerous thing we could come up with to do. (Probably because someone made the rule necessary at one point or another.) As long as we're being obedient, we are safe. Obedience also assures that we can receive warning from the Holy Ghost - I've already seen that in action too. There has been an occasion already when my companion and I both felt prompted to leave an area right away. We know what it feels like when we receive a warning, and we do listen when they come. I promise, Momma, I'm the safest kid you've got. :)
There's a family here that makes me think of Rich a lot. The husband is from Scotland. I told him my step-dad had lived there for a while, and he wants to know if Rich has been to Edinburgh, which I think he said is in Livingston. Sometimes it shocks me when people old enough to be my parents or grandparents ask me for help; I forget that they see my name-tag and calling rather than my age. He asked me, "Did your stepfather ever have trouble with the kids not listening because 'You're not my dad?'" It seems to be a universal struggle. I'm seeing more and more how often we bite the hand that feeds us, especially as teenagers. I think there must be a special reward for people who take in and provide for children that are not their own, and only seem to be punished for it. I know Christ knows a lot about that too. He was certainly punished for loving others. I guess these hard things in our families could be a blessing in disguise because they give us something in common with the Savior.
I'm finally getting that letter i wrote in the MTC in the mail today, along with another if I can get it done. You'll probably have them in a week or so, but that's just a guess. I love you, and I can't wait to hear from you. Remember to pray and read, and take everything else easy. Actually, get on the church website and look up President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference last week, and then take his advice. I think it's wise counsel for our whole family right now. Except for me and Elder Propst, of course. Missionaries can rest when they get home. ;)
I love you very much. I know our Father in Heaven loves you too.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
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