This week was definately harder than last but so much better! I definately got more homesick this week but nothing too bad. This week was pretty uneventful except for a few amazing experiences and funny stories. It's pretty much just class all the time. But that's okay because I love learning.
So last week after I wrote my email, my whole district was able to go do a session in the temple together. That was such an amazing experience!! It was so cool to be missionaries and be in the temple. It was also the first time we had been around any regular people since we have been here. People really do watch you as missionaries. Every single person we passed by would smile and talk to us. It was the coolest feeling ever. I absolutely love being a missionary.
And then on Sunday I was called as the Zone Leader over all the scandinavian districts. It was a surprise. I am one of the newest missionaries here and I'm expected to be in charge of some of these guys who have been here 3 weeks longer than me. But that's okay because I'm really excited to be the Zone Leader because I love everyone in my zone so much!! we are one big family already and it's so awesome and such an amazing feeling :)
Then monday night I witnessed my first miracle. Or at least heard about it. So the four äldster in the room next to us were all out in the hall talking and goofing off with us. And everyone always leaves there doors to there rooms open at night when we are all socializing. So no ones door is ever shut. But late at night, at about 10:30 (when we were supposed to be in bed), They all came back to their room and there door was shut and none of them had a key. And the weird thing was we were around there room kinda and no one noticed that it had shut. These doors arent like the ones that you have to hold open with a doorstop. They just stay open whereever they are and thats why it was weird that it shut. So they called the front desk in the main building and the four of them walked over there to get an extra key. They said that when they got there they were the only four people in the whole building besides the lady at the front desk. Then all of a sudden a security guard brought in a really sick chinese girl who had just gotten to the MTC. She had thrown up so many times on all her flights and kept passing out. The security guard asked them if they could give her a blessing. So when they were asked this these 4 worthy elders and missionaries of The Lord all immediately gave her a blessing. After that she was a lot better. I teared up when they came back and told me this story because it really was a witness to me that the Lord lines everything up exactly. Their door shut for a reason. That reason was because that Sister needed a blessing. And these 4 Elders were the only priesthood holders in the building that late at night and they were ready and worthy to do what the Lord asked them. We never know when we will be needed of the Lord. It is so Important we live our best everyday and remain worthy to hear the promptings of the spirit and to act on them immediately.
Another cool thing that happened this week was that me and my companion, Äldste Hart, and I taught the first lesson to another 'investigator" (side note: the first investigator I was teaching ended up to be one of my teachers, so i have 2 now and they both act as "investigators") anyways we taught her the restoration in 100% swedish without any notes! It was the coolest experience. And the spirit is so so so much different and so much more present when you arent reading scripted lines. We also let her talk too because the missionary should only do 50% of the talking. It is important to listen and learn the investigators needs and focus on those and gear your lesson towards their needs and if nesessary stray from your lesson and rely on the spirit. The spirit really does put the words in your mouth you need to say. It is an act of faith. You have to open your mouth before it is filled. You cant have faith that a light will turn on and then it magically turns on. You must act in faith to recieve guidance or an answer.You need to have faith that the light will turn on, and then flip the switch. It is a cool concept to think about. We watched a talk from Elder Bednar who said you have to open your mouth with faith before it will be filled. You cant expect the words to come to you without acting in faith. I have come to know this is true the two weeks I have been here. The gift of tounges is real.
Monday morning we were able to host as the senior missionaries arrived at the MTC. It was super fun and the senior missionaries are so funny hahaha we took their luggage for them and showed them to their rooms. They have such a nice residence hall compared to us. It's like a hotel. They have their own bathrooms and a courtyard and an exersise room and an icemaker and their rooms look like a hotel. Ours are like a prison. Brick walls with 3 sets of bunk beds in a semismall room. the best thing we have is a pull up bar bolted into the wall out in the hall and we always have competitions because that's all there is to do haha.
This week was awesome. Äldste Carrigan turned his 3 ties he brought to trade into 25 ties. no one knows how he does it hahaha he's a natural born salesman I guess. People come to our room all the time looking for him to trade. I cant think of anything really funny that happened this week. But we still laugh at everything. We think we are going crazy in here. Things that we would never laugh at makes us laugh so hard hahaha. It really is kinda like a prison though. We have such a tight schedule and at night a voice comes over all the rooms and says, "10:30. Lights out." hahaha we make fun of it every time.
Last night we were able to hear from Elder Ballard and he spoke on missionary work and it was so amazing! He is so spiritual and I loved listening to him. Me and Elder Jennings, the other zone leader went and picked up the new Dutchies. One is from Norway and can speak some swedish which is helpful to me. I talked a lot with him.
Well my time is about up. I'm sorry if I didnt write everyone back... Im trying and I promise ill get back to you. They just barely give us any time on here. But keep writing me because I love to hear whats goin on in your lives! Life can get pretty boring here. Remember that you are all in my prayers and I miss you all!
Jag älskar ni!!
Jag ska käpma på!
Äldste Bailey
PS: As far as the pictures go, the one with me and the king looking guy, that is elder wootan. He is in the netherlands right now. he was the zone leader before me. He passed on the crown to me and the challace to elder jennings. and the other one is all the guys in our early moring "study" session hahaha. and the other is aldste carrigan and his tie profit. Sorry for the lack of pics. I will send more next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment