Hello from Helsingborg

 So, I'm in Helsingborg!  I've only been here four days but it's been an amazing four days.  Elder Stafford (my companion) and I get along way good!  Him and I met at EFY together five years ago and we have some other weird connections.  He has not been in the area too much longer than I have so we get to learn a lot of it together.  I hopefully will get to go see more of Helsingborg today as the last couple of days have been really crazy.

   On Thursday we had zone training and I got to meet all of the missionaries throughout the Helsingborg zone.  They are all super cool and you can tell the work is important to them. I am privileged to come down here and serve with them.  The day was all about following the promptings of the spirit.  And how the spirit will naturally guide our decisions, actions, and thoughts as long as we are doing everything we can to keep him with us and as long as we try to always do what is best.  We all focused a lot on the attributes of the Holy Ghost and how we can, from his attributes, know what invites him.  Just how we know that if we organize a basketball game our friends who love basket will come.  We need to always do the things needed to invite the Holy Ghost.  And since he is the best player, we can't lose once we make sure he can be there.

   Leaving Södertälje was not the funnest thing I have done but I love it here, already.  On Saturday two members in the ward got married.  It was great to see the whole ward come together and support the new couple, it was also an amazing chance for me to get to know them all, and I love it here.

Puss och Kram!

   Äldste Jon Moe

Jonathan was transferred to Helsingborg on Wednesday

Helsingborg City Hall with Denmark in the background.

Jonathan was just transferred to the southern most part of Sweden.  He'll be able to travel to Denmark to the temple.  He was really sad to leave Sodertalje but Helsingborg will be a good change for him, especially during the cold winter months ahead.  Jonathan's address hasn't changes since everything still passes through the Swedish Stockholm Mission Office.

1-12-13

Having a rest!

Me, Konta and Aldste Jones

Happy New Year everyone!  

   
It's strange to think it's 2014.  It still feels like 2012 for me but I have to accept the fact that time seems to fly.  New Year's was amazing!  We spent it with friends and our ward family.  In Sweden the cities and counties don't do large firework shows but everyone buys a ton of fireworks personally and launches them off so the skies are completely lit up.  It's insane on New Years.

  Since New Years there's been a lot going on.  We finally got a lot of snow.  And now temperatures are an average of -5*C.  This morning when we got into the car it said it was 10 degrees below.  Which is around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  So quite cold.

   This last Saturday, a man was baptized into the church.  We got to the church early to help organize everything and realized that the parking lot was covered in snow.  We immediately began clearing the snow, then the man getting baptized arrived and helped us clear the parking lot!  Shoveling snow turned into a snowball fight between the three of us.  He is now a baptized and confirmed a member.  He bore his testimony right after he was baptized.  It was very powerful and the spirit was strong in the room.  He has a strong will to follow Christ.    He has a beautiful testimony.

  I have loved being here in Södertälje but I will be moving this Wednesday.  I am moving to Helsingborg, a city towards the southern part of Sweden.  I am sad to be leaving all of the friends I have made here.   However, I'm very excited to experience something new and see another part of the country.  The members here in Södertälje are amazing!  I'm going to miss them like I miss the members in my other areas.  I really feel as if I was able to become close to them in my time here.  I'm making lifelong friends here and definitely creating lifelong habits that I want to take home with me.  For example, setting goals, following the spirit and seeking God's will for me.  

     I miss my friends and family from home and would love to hear from you all.  Thank You to everyone that has sent me emails, letters and packages in the last few months.  I really appreciate all the love and support from my family, my friends, and my ward. 

Lots of Love,

   Jonathan Moe

Happy New Year!!!

Images from Christmas 

Christmas Eve dinner

At Italo's place

 Sodertalje Zone

      I've loved celebrating a typical Swedish Christmas here in Södertälje.  The members were welcoming and kind to us missionaries.  Although there has not been snow on the ground we've still been able to keep the Holiday spirit.

    Last Tuesday we were asked to come contacting with the new missionaries who came in to the mission.  It brought me back to a year ago when I first arrived in Sweden.  I remember how much I looked up to those missionaries I went contacting with my first day in Sweden.  It made me excited to think that I had the opportunity to be one of those older experienced elders.

    Last week we also had the Christmas Conference.  All of the missionaries in the northern half of Sweden were there.  The conference was centered on the Book of Mormon and its importance in our work.  How our job is to present information in a clear way and challenge people to act.  We need to leave converting up to the Book.  The day after the conference I was able to return to Eskilstuna for splits.  I got to see quite a few of the members there which was very cool.  While waiting for the bus I had a feeling to talk to a man, he had already seen us and looked away.  I thought that I shouldn't as he had already looked away but then thought to myself "Do I really want to remember myself as not obeying a prompting I received?"  I began talking to him and he ended up being very positive.  Not only that but he was good friends with the Stake President!  If we are keeping our eyes open we will be guided to what we are supposed to do, then we need to act on the information we receive.  

   Church on Sunday we had a Christmas program.  So church was just an hour long and filled with musical numbers on the birth of the savior and a story telling of his birth.  It helped bring in the Christmas spirit which is the same as the spirit of Christ.  As people treat each other with kindness and giving we can feel the love that we all have for each other as a human family.

   Here in Sweden Christmas is really celebrated the night before on Christmas eve, this is when Santa comes with presents, everyone dances around the Christmas tree, the big Christmas dinner takes place, and all of Sweden stops to watch Kalle Anka.  Or Donald Duck in the U.S.  Every Christmas eve starting at three no stores are open, and everyone watches a Donald Duck special which is the same every year.  A funny tradition but a cool tradition to have.  

   Monday night through Christmas night we were with ward families in their homes.  We were able to spend time with the Birgerssons, Schiazzanos, and the Lidberg families.  This has been one of my favorite Christmases since I've been able to give more of myself.  I've had the opportunity to serve others and live closer to Christ.  I'm grateful for all the Christmas wishes I received from family and friends and wish the same back to all of you.  

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

MVH,

  Äldste Moe

Christmas in Sodertalje Sweden

 Sankta Lucia

  Elder Jones and I on Santa's lap

Christmas decorations close to where we live

Me and the guys at the Christmas party

 Hej Family and Friends,

    Merry Christmas!  Christmas is getting closer and closer but still no snow that's sticking to the ground.  Very weird for Sweden, but I'm sure we'll not be sorry for a shorter winter. Yet winter has just started so who knows.  As long as there is permanent snow for Christmas we'll all be happy.  

     This last week, we had the opportunity to participate in the ward Christmas party and to see the Sa
nkta Lucia ceremony in the Swedish church.  The ward Christmas party was wonderful.  I know how important a ward family means to so many but I was reminded of it again.  It makes me happy to realize that I have a family to spend Christmas with no matter where I am around the world.  The St. Lucia festival was amazing.  It was cool to see more of the Swedish culture and some of their Christmas traditions.

   The work is still going very well.  Hopefully, we have someone getting baptized on the twenty-eighth of this month.  But it is depends on whether or not they can quite drinking before then.  They have a firm testimony of the church and the Book of Mormon but they just need to begin to live the commandments in order to be baptized.  We have others who should be baptized soon.  I'm so happy to have the opportunity to serve and to try to help people change their lives for the better but the real change comes from within.  I'm really grateful that I get to be a missionary during this Christmas time.  When I focus on the true meaning of the season I can feel myself grow closer to my Savior.

   Yesterday was definitely hard.  I got bad food poisoning and was throwing up most of the day.  As I got to rest I thought it would be good to stay in and rest but it didn't feel good.  About halfway through the day, I woke up feeling a bit better and had to go out.  Even when sick it didn't feel good being inside when we should be out trying to reach others.  Even though, I was still feeling bad we did as much as I could.  I woke up today a hundred percent better and so thankful for my health and ability to go out and serve others.   

Puss och Kram,

   Äldste Moe 

A plan for success

Hej everyone, 

     I must apologize that I haven't done the blog justice of late.  There hasn't been a lot of down time.  Most of my time on preparation day has been running around to get ready for the coming week and trying to find a little time to relax and refill the battery.  But being busy isn't necessarily a bad thing.  We have a lot to do and tons of work right now.  We are working with quite a few people who are getting close to baptism.  Sometimes in can be frustrating when people don't do the really simple things they say they will.  We just have to remember that everyone has their agency and can choose for themselves.  Although we know something is better for someone we have no right to impose it upon them.  I just think about the capacity for frustration God has with us. 

    We have been seeing blessings this last week and I have found my personal formula for doing hard things.  This is something the mission President talked about and I have definitely worked to apply it and hope to keep this skill after the mission as well.  If we want something we need to create a vision, we need to lay out what exactly it is that we want to see changed.  A lot of the time we become overwhelmed by these visions or goals that we set because the things we want are big.  So next we need to plan it out, we need to think about what we want and when we want it then plan out baby steps.  We just have to break down the end goal into many smaller time bound goals.  Then we need to be obedient to the plans that we make.  We need to be diligent in following up on those little steps because then no giant miracle is needed, the execution of your vision is simple.  Lastly is faith, the secret to success, at all times we need to know that we can accomplish our vision.  So the formula for doing great and hard things is, Vision, Planning, Obedience (to the plans we set), and Faith.  I have seen the success from this plan.

   Right now we are in the Christmas season here and the spirit of Christmas is all around.  The Swedes love this season and there is joy everywhere.  I am very excited to be heading into my first Christmas in Sweden and my second as a missionary(last year I was visa waiting in VA).  I am doing my best everyday to remember Christ and all that he has done for me.  To really maximize my baptismal covenant to remember him.  And one of the best ways I can do that is by serving others.  I think the best birthday present we can give to Christ is really living the two highest laws, love the Lord thy God and love thy fellow man.  And it's when we show this love through charitable acts that we really serve the lord.  The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of Christ.

   This last week a man who we have been meeting with came to church, he's Swedish and and faithful.  He knows more about religion then any investigator I've met so far.  He has read about every book on religion out there and before we even met him he knew two of them were true.  The Book of Mormon and the Bible.  When I first met him he was quoting the Book of Mormon and he has never met with missionaries before.  Right now he is half way through the Doctrine and Covenants and came to church yesterday.  He loved church service and has agreed that he needs to find out if this is the one true church.  And when he knows it is he said he would be baptized. 

   I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season.  I'm happy to be here and serving the people of Sweden.  

love,

  Äldste Jon Moe

Home teaching and Christmas decorations!

Helping members string their Christmas lights

JulStjärnor 

 The six missionaries in Södertälje.  Elder Jones and I, Elder and Sister Lowry, then Sisters Faux and Chesley

 

Käre Vänner (friends),

This last week we have seen quite a few miracles.  They have been manifested in church attendance.  This week we had around 100 people in church.  This last summer there were always around 60-70 people in church.  And this last week there were a hundred!  It's fun to see so many people coming to church.  In Priesthood meeting we had to stand up because we didn't fit into the room we were using that day for Priesthood.  

   Winter is definitely coming.  Everyday is windy and cold now.  Most of the last couple days have been in the negative (Celsius) degrees.  There was a three day stretch where we did not see the sun because it was dark and we had clouds all three days.  We should be getting snow this week.  The days are getting shorter and shorter in regards to sunlight and winter is definitely upon us.  Winter this far north can be a challenge. A lot of people go into hibernation.  We don't see as many people as often.  Teaching is harder.  But we're up for the challenge.

    This last week some members invited us to go on splits and help with home teaching.  The calling of a home or visiting teacher is one of the greatest callings someone can receive.  The responsibility to be there for some of our heavenly fathers children is great. It's amazing how much trust God puts in our hands.   It is through home teaching that we grow but also that the Kingdom of God will grow.  I believe that to be the biggest difference someone can make in their ward or branch.  To serve as a loving Home or Visiting Teacher.

     It may seem a little premature but the Christmas music has been busted out.   We have been listening to the hymns made for the season and lots of JulStjärnor (Christmas decorations) are making an appearance.  These are star shaped decorations that Swedes hang in their windows during the Christmas season.  It's a representation of the new star which was seen on the day of Christ's birth many years ago.  It's exciting and very important to remember that is what this season is for.  When we keep the Christmas spirit we keep the spirit of Christ and his birth alive.  What a great time of year to reflect, ponder and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. The best present we can give the Lord is a humble heart and a contrite spirit.  When we have these things we can learn and grow.     

MVH,

   Äldste Jonathan Moe