November 24, 2014

Hej Far og Mor :)

I'm going to start off by saying that I'm really thankful to the Lord that Elder Lester has another turn here in Helsingør. We've been seeing so many good things happen over just the past few short weeks, and we're happy to get the opportunity to work together, especially now with the Christmas season approaching.

Last year in Frederiksberg we had the whole ward in with us on giving referrals to their friends of people we can go caroling to. It lead to many referrals and finding a lot of people, and Elder Lester and I already have the plan in action for this year. I love the Christmas season! It's a time when people's hearts are softened and more willing to listen.

Elder Lester and I have already started to experience this. I've had a few wonderful experiences with contacting people recently, and I know that it's because they're being prepared to hear about the glad message. I was also excited to be a part of 'M's baptismal service,

a recent convert in the ward Elder Enniss taught. It was great to see the kind of changes that people are able to make in their life, and then to be a part of the circle for giving the gift of the Holy Ghost for the first time was a sweet experience. 

It's especially sweet to see the change that 'V' (who we actually call 'H', pronounced like 'vipsah' actually means wasps in Danish, but she doesn't like her name...)  has made in her life.  I hope I can be here to see her make the step to be baptized.  She's ready, but hesitant. 

In any case, it's been great to be a part of seeing her change, and I feel blessed just to be in this area right now. 

On another note, Elder Lester and I went to a Jehovah's Witness meeting this week.  That was pretty interesting, but the girl who brought us wasn't at all willing to even listen to our message after we went to their meeting, so that's the end of the line there.

Another fun experience was a sweet old woman that I contacted on the train and had a nice conversation with before she got off at her stop.  While I was smiling to myself thinking about what a nice lady she was, the woman across the aisle told me to look out the window to see that the woman was showing her grandson, about my age, and almost my same dimensions, where I was sitting on the train, and then got a big old grin on her face and started waving when she realized I saw her :) 

Those little conversations always make me feel like I'm doing a good work, even if people aren't always willing to listen to everything I have to say, they know that I care about them, and it makes me feel good.

I'd really love to incorporate the 10 things I'm thankful for idea.  I actually already have the ten things I'm thankful for from the gospel.  I use it as a contacting technique so that as I am talking about everyday life things with people, I can remember to apply those things to bear testimony of things that actually mean something to me.  That's also a good way to use those points once you have them written down *hint hint* ;) 

I love you both, and hope y'all have an amazing week :)

Ældste Pitcher

November 17, 2014

Hej Mor og Far!  :)

I did get my camera.  It's great, I'll be sending pics from it in just a minute. 

Good to hear that you've gotten in touch with the Lester family.  I've heard so many great family stories, and they seem like wonderful people. 

It's funny you mentioned the bible dictionary's definition on prayer ma, that's something Pres. Sederholm talked about not too long ago in a training, and something that I felt really hit me.  Repitition breeds importance I guess :) 

It's great to hear about all of the support with Corbin's surgery.  He's pulling through like such a champ :) 

I love the idea of sending some stuff home for Christmas.  I also like the idea of having some extra money to buy things for Christmas.  To be honest, I've turned into a bit of a shopper, so some money to buy a nice Danish sweater, and maybe some new slacks would be awesome :)  The trends here are great.  As far as other stuff just from home goes ... I think I'm doing pretty good with everything.  I'll get back to you on that. 

It's great to hear how the hockey is going!  I also got to hear from Nick Fornelius just today, and I must say, I'm missing it a lot.  Tough to be in a Scandinavian country in the winter where it seems so natural to be out on the ice, and not be able to go.  Maybe we can get some kind of district activity here going.  Elder Enniss, my good friend from the MTC is actually the district leader here now!  It's going to be a great transfer. 

Here's a little from my week.

Looking back, I feel good about this my first transfer in Helsingør. Ældste Lester showed me some of his previous planners with all of the key indicators tallied up, and I've decided from that alone we've made a contribution to this area. It's also presented some things for us to work on, and I'm looking forward to one more go of it while Elder Lester is still here.

This week we had an awesome experience with ‘V’. At the beginning of the week she was having a rough time and asked us to come by to give another comforting blessing.  ...

NOTE:  I have decided to summarize what followed in Teagan’s email by saying that ‘V’ had a very personal spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of the things she was taught.  I feel that the details are too personal to be posted on a public blog without her consent. Suffice it to say that it was a wonderful missionary experience.

This is such an exciting time to be in Helsingør!

We also had another fun experience when trying to meet with a less active that we've had a REALLY hard time getting an appointment with. Turned out though that the member we had was confused with the time we gave him over the phone and wasn't going to be able to meet, so we were going to have to cancel. Not if I had anything to say about it though! I started talking with every man that was on the street, trying to get them to help us out for just 10 minutes so we could at least hold some kind of meeting with this woman. The third man finally said yes! The fun part though was that he only spoke English since he was from Romania :P

We went ahead and met with the woman, and could tell that the man was getting increasingly uncomfortable as time went on. He finally got up and told us he had to leave to catch a train. So we ended with a prayer and left.

To us though, it was a success, and an opportunity to meet, and make another appointment with this woman that had been so difficult to get a hold of. She was pretty impressed with our diligence as well, so we felt good about it in the end even if the meeting wasn't very long.

Going back to the experience with ‘V’ though.  I had a moment earlier this week when it all just kind of clicked with the nickname the Dalberg's have given me.  They give all of their missionaries nicknames, and one night when ‘L’ saw me come into the room he 'switched' up my name to 'Switcher' instead of Pitcher, and the name stuck, as I'm sure ‘V’ told you. 

My nickname started to make more sense though after this week. Missionaries have been going there for quite a while now, and from what Elder Lester was saying, there hasn't been a lot of progression in her desire to learn up to this point.  In the Gospel we are always changing, always repenting and getting better, 'switching' old behaviors to new ones.  The nickname is one of the sweetest I have, and one that I'll never forget.  I'm happy every day when I remember that I get to be this family's 'Switcher'.  I'm loving it here.

Have a great week!

Ældste Pitcher

November 10, 2014

Wow, what a week. We just got transfer calls, and I'm staying with Elder Lester!! I must say I feel like it's exactly what I needed personally from this upcoming transfer. There are a few things to come in the next few weeks that I honestly feel like only Elder Lester can do. I'm really looking forward to spending another transfer with him, and to having one of my absolute favorite missionaries, Elder Enniss, as my new district leader. He's a true friend to me, and I've already learned so much from him. This is going to be a great transfer.

There were some great appointments this week, also some sad ones, but we feel good about the outcome as a whole. ‘S’, a recently reactivated member of our ward is still working hard towards his temple goal with his wife, and hasn't smoked at all this week! Elder Wawro and I, during splits on Tuesday evening, got the chance to teach ‘S' daughter ‘N’ for the first time. It went really well, and ‘S’ told us today she would like to come to church sometime with him. We just need to find a Sunday when she won't be with her mom.

Elder Lester and I have also been working a lot on our finding techniques, and have increased our courage putting faith in Christ to find. It's been great to see how many more people have been open to talking with us, even if we didn't reach our goal for new investigators this week. I'm still loving it here in Helsingør, and I had a good week. 

Some other fun stuff. When I was on splits with Elder Wawro (Zone leader)  we had a cat come into our apartment from the roof top, so we got some pictures with it ;)  That was fun.  Elder Lester and I cut down a Christmas tree, I'll try and get some pics sent by next week ;)  ‘V’ also made us some handmade stockings with her nicknames for us on there, and a Christmas countdown calendar which is huge here, with tons of gifts.  I love that family. 

I found a bicycle that I'm fixing up, and thinking about selling my old one since I've had so many problems with the small tires and them going flat :P  It's great for city life, but not a good everyday-missionary-use-back-trails kind of bike.  We'll see. 

We had the turkey bowl this week for our zone activity, and it was such a blast.  Playing football with these missionaries is honestly one of my favorite memories of zone things, and this one just added to it. 

The talents that were shared were also awesome.  A few REALLY funny skits that should be posted up on the mission blog.  One of Elder Warwo (the missionary I was on splits with) doing a 'polish-mexican folk dance' and also one of Elder Jewkes and Elder Wright and Elder Hafen, and Elder Wright's trainee Elder Carroll all doing a sing/dance along to an efy song.  My face hurt so much from laughing. 

I was trying to prepare a skit, but we ran out of time, and were a little busy.  Still a lot of fun though.  My face hurt so much from laughing :) 

We had stake conference just recently, and I got to see the Jepsens, and Amy Wood!  It was awesome to see some old friends from the Frederiksberg ward, and especially to see a friend from back home, and to speak Danish with her.... That was weird haha!

We had to take off early from the zone activity to get to our appointments, so Elder Warwo and I were not in the pictures :(  I was way bummed about that. 

‘V’ had some really tough family struggles come up the past few days, and she's pushed back her stop smoking day until there is a little bit more peace at home... It's tough, but I understand where she is coming from. 

President said it’s fine that I practice, but it isn't practical to carry a drum around with me (obviously) so I just need to be ready if the opportunity presents itself, then I can let him know and we can try and set something up with Elder Gudmundson and I.  It's not super likely, but I'd like to be ready in any case :) 

There has been a real focus in our mission on finding people to teach.  I've been trying to enhance a few certain talents more and more.  Some like the crafts and knitting things, but also using my personality more to reach people just like Dad talked about.  I actually set a new years goal this last year of enhancing/making new talents, and it's really helped in my missionary work.  I felt like it was a bit of personal inspiration. 

Please keep the ‘D’ Family in your prayers.  They have been going through some rough stuff over the past few days, and they need the extra prayers.

I love you both!

Ældste Pitcher

November 3, 2014

Hey Ma and Pa!

We had a few amazing experiences this week.  I've never given so many blessings in a transfer.  It's incredible to see the amount of good a priesthood blessing can do, and it's strengthened my faith immensely in the power of the priesthood. 

Early this week our friend ‘V’ had been stressing out a lot with some family problems, a son dealing with depression, and preparing a daughter for a big trip coming up.  We offered a blessing and though only knowing a little bit about priesthood blessings, she accepted without hesitation. 

At the appointment Elder Lester offered a comforting blessing, and ‘L’, her husband, though an atheist, even agreed to stay in the room.  When the blessing was finished everyone sat very still for a minute, and I could tell that something struck a chord. 

Later she texted us and said she had felt like it was a 'huge hug' and that she was going to quit smoking!  She set Sunday as her final day for smoking (yesterday) and asked if we would give another blessing to get things off on the right foot. 

After the blessing yesterday though something else happened that was just like what happened with Sis. ‘S's blessing.  ‘V’ had me come over and just put one hand on top of her daughter's head.  I felt a rush of comfort coming from the connection, and right then ‘V’ asked 'can you feel that?'  to her daughter, and rather than asking what she meant, she replied 'what is that?'  ‘V’ said she could feel the 'energy' coming from me today, and explained that to her daughter as well. 

The beautiful fall forests

The 'energy' they could feel was the priesthood, and had nothing to do with what I was doing, it was just incredible to see that they could recognize it even just through the placing of the hands on the head. 

There are still obviously some things that still need to be explained, and steps that need to be taken, but I feel like this family is just on the edge of great things.  I'm so lucky to be here at this time. 

Some other fun things that happened: Elder Lester and I found a free, brand new stationary bike out on someone's front yard.  It was so nice I made sure to double check with the lady that it was ok for us to take.  It's a great work out, and now allows one of us to do cardio while the other one can do other exercises all in one convenient location!  :) 

I also picked up knitting from ‘V’ this week, and she's got me knitting a scarf :)  I get lots of weird looks on the trains, but it's already sparked some casual conversation since it's so weird to see a teen boy knitting, so I've got a great new contacting strategy ;) 

‘R’ is doing awesome!  Still off alcohol, and working towards the first Sunday in December to come to church. ‘O’ is still being taught, was supposed to take us to church this week but bailed, we're also teaching his wife now. ‘S’ is also going to get married here, and then we'll have just one more hurdle before he can set a baptismal date that he's so excited for.  Still having a lot of fun here!

I've been telling everyone today in my emails about how crazy it is that everyone will continue to grow even until the time when I get back.  It's great to see the progression, it's just weird to think I won't be coming home to the same old family.  Then again, I've grown with you, so the change can't be too bad, and it's mostly exciting. 

Change is something that I feel like I've actually really come to love since being on my mission.  If things aren't constantly changing, then there is never an opportunity for improvement, and that's what God's plan is all about. 

I asked President today about the drum, we'll have to just wait and see. I'll be sure to keep sending pics.  I love y'all.

Ældste Pitcher