Lovin' the Members!!!

My awesome sofa on the Linköping University Campus!!!
Did you know that my sofa is HEATED?!?! haha It is awesome! It is super warm so you can sit outside when it is a little chilly! :)


Hej Familj!!!

Well, this week has been pretty awesome! As you can probably tell, the members are a BIG part of that! We just have some really great members here in Linköping!! They are always a joy to be around on Sundays, but even more fun to be with them in their homes and with others! Let me share an experience we just had this past Saturday with a member. We had a time set up with this member for three o'clock to come and have some food! We had been out during the morning for a little longer than expected so we were a little late getting home for lunch. We were both starving, and just couldn't wait until the fast approaching three o'clock appointment. So, we heated up some left overs and decided to eat just a bit so that our stomachs would stop whining! haha Well, we both ate too much. I know, big shocker... hahaha :)

When we arrived we hoped that she would maybe need a little more time to prepare or want us to share the message first. However, when we went into the apartment building, her door was open and she quickly welcomed us into her place. After we took off our jackets she directed us to the table. At the time we did not know that it was the table because you could not even see the table there was soooo much food on there! She had made us chili con carne with rice and LOTS of it! Not to mention all the different kinds of breads and cheese and butter and hard boiled eggs.... etc... :) She LOVES having the missionaries over and always greets us with the warmest smile when she sees us! Anyway, back to the story! When we sat down Äldste Maxwell and I looked at each other and both knew that we were in for it! We served up some rather small portions (like we discussed before we went into her building) and started eating. The food was great! Really good! However, after the first few bites I was completely full. Knowing that it was bad manners to not finish what was on your plate I continued eating despite the feeling of needing to vomit rising within me. After the last bite, I was extremely nervous... The entire time she had basically been begging us to take more, and trying to give us like three pieces of bread at one time... haha It was crazy! She ordered me to take more rice and I followed her demands. She then told me that I needed to pass my plate to her so that she could serve me some of the chili con carne. She told me to basically "say when". She took the MASSIVE ladle and plunged it deep into the chili. She quickly drenched my plate with what looked like pure meat and beans and went back for a second one. As she was rising the ladle the second time I quickly told her that what she had given me was plenty. She proceeded to place the second ladle of food on my plate and gave it back. (The same thing happened to Äldste Maxwell just a few minutes after) I ate. And I ate. And I ATE ATE ATE ATE!!! I was so sick. The plate would just not get any smaller! For the first time since I can remember I was gagging trying to fit all of the food in my stomach. I was about three quarters of the way done with my plate when this dear sister stopped me. She looked me in the eye and told me that I did not have to finish. I wanted to finish that plate soooooo badly, but I just couldn't. She continued on to say that it looked like I was suffering. Haha, yes she really did say exactly that! I was absolutely suffering and I needed to stop before I lost it all! After she took my plate and I was getting really woozy she said, besides, you still have dessert! .... ....... .. .. ... .. .. I think I cried a little. She gave us fruit cocktail with home made whipped cream. Yum!! But oh so blugh.. I ate only a few bites. After dinner we shared a message and got out of there pronto. We were both sooo sick. I had some quality time with the grass by the bus stop before we climbed on to get to our next appointment. Once on the bus we tried as much as we could to rest our bodies. I am sure we just looked terrible! haha

We were off to another great member's home to go and visit a newly moved in member of the branch. When we arrived, they were preparing food. . . ... . ... I about lost it. I could not believe what was happening! This member noticed right away that we looked a bit uncomfortable. She asked what the matter was. I spoke up and told her that to be perfectly honest we had just eaten with another member and that we were both sick from how much we ate. We had no idea they were planning on feeding us! So, the mother made some quick changes. We were going to be having Mongolian BBQ with the new grill the father of the family (a non-member) got for his birthday. So she told him to get the grill going and we were going to go visit the new member first. We were so thankful! Walking around felt incredible! The new member lived about a 15-20 minute walk away from the members house and that gave us a little bit of time to prepare. The new member was not home then, so we left her a card and planned to return to visit her later. On the walk back this awesome member told us to just take a little bit of food and to not worry about a thing. The evening turned out pretty well. The food was great! Even though we really didn't want it. hahaha And we made friends with the husband of the member. Yay! That night we came home and went straight to bed. We are still feeling like we have no appetites. haha It's crazy! We truly are being taken care of here in Linköping! It is great!

Okay now I must get to the e-mails! That took some time! Okay first up we have Dad! I love you Dad! Yay BYU and CMR both had wins! That is so good to hear! Yes, we were able to go and visit Majid! Thank you for asking! He is doing great! Very excited still about learning and understanding the Gospel! Woo! We will be visiting him shortly! The weather is not as warm as it has been for you all! We are having very fall temperatures and the leaves keep falling at an ever increasing rate! Aggh! It is okay though because I love the fall colors and smells! Yay! My last P-day in Stockholm was great! We played football and ultimate Frisbee! Perfect weather for both too! It was nice being up in Stockholm again.. kinda feels like home up there! :) So, you have a wrist brace huh? Oh no! ;) I hope that you feel better soon! I will be praying for you and hoping that the doctor can figure out what is going on. Keep me posted on that! As for my health, I am doing pretty well! No more "panic attacks" if that truly is what they were. However, I am still having issues with the whole "numbness/weakness" of my skin. I am just hoping and praying that it gets figured out and that I can be up to full health again some time soon. Äldste Maxwell and I feel that it is something in my neck. Because sometimes when my neck is in a weird position I get the sensation that my body is "gone" or that my sensation is lost. Maybe a nerve getting cramped? Not sure, but we are continuing to monitor it! :) No worries! Well, I love you Dad and hope that this week is a good one for you! :)

Okay, now it is time for Matt! I love you Matt! Way to go on this past game! Sounds like it was awesome! Homecoming week huh? Oh that was always soooo much fun! Enjoy it all and be safe with all that you do! Yes, I hear about American sports over here. Missionaries have their sources and when someone gets something, it spreads pretty fast. The Swedish people like a lot about the States and I think sports is up on that list. I am continuing to work out, but by the looks of your pictures I don't think we will be able to lift much together. You could spot me, but I don't think I would be of much assistance to you! hahaha We will see in the future how things are going. You truly are looking good and putting on some poundage! Muscle of course.. haha :) I am praying for you and hoping all goes well with school and all of your other activities! I love you! :)

Okay well, Mom must still be resting from not feeling too well. I hope that she gets feeling better and that ... (right as I was typing that she sent a message! awesome!) I am glad you are feeling better this morning Mom! Have a great day and know that I love you! You all are in my prayers and thoughts! By the way, thank you for the awesome BYU shirts and family pictures! They are sooooo much fun! Pure GOLD if I might say so! :) ;)

Okay now for a quick Spiritual Thought. This one is about football... and the Priesthood. So, go to this website and watch the Mormon Message entitled, "Sanctify Yourselves" (http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng) It is an awesome video! The Sister Missionaries in Norrköping told us about it! Oh! Yeah, the District is doing great! We were able to have a great District Meeting this past Thursday! The Assistants to President Newell came and brought a great Spirit with them! Not to mention that one of them is Äldste Bracken!!! Remember him? My second companion in Sweden.. We were in Växjö together! I love him! Äldste Olson is the other Assistant and we are good friends too! Okay, I love you all! Have a great week! Hearing from you makes me smile every time! :) :)

Trogen och Stadig, Är Jag Redo!!!!!
Faithful and Steady, I AM Ready!!!!!

Äldste Kundis :) :) :)

Mine eyes have seen the glory....rather the horror of BYU Football!

Hej Familj!!!


Well, I have to say I am a bit disappointed at BYU's actions. Especially when a mission President gives permission to his missionaries to watch them and the Utes battle it out. I watched in horror as fumble after fumble and broken play by broken play hearts were torn and squashed into the cold, dark, unforgiving ground. Haha, okay so President Newell did NOT give us permission to watch the game, nor did I watch it. I was just going off what I was told. Sounds like it was pretty hard to sit through. What on earth is going on?! I guess BYU is still waiting for me to get back before they dominate. Well, this week has been good! We found a new investigator! His name is Majid! He is eager to learn more about the book of Mormon and the Gospel in general. Working is great, and we have been able to do more of it! My health is doing well! No more panic attacks, probably because I realize what they are now. I am still experiencing some "numbness" or a better way to describe it is "weakness" in my skin. Not sure if it is truly a nerve compression or something else. But all that I know is that it has not become worse, so that is comforting. Today we are heading off to Stockholm to play some sports! So, sadly our train leaves at 10.57 and it is 10.19 now! That means no time! Just know that I am doing well and loving life! I want to thank Dad for his wonderful card. It was nice to have that and feel the love! I love all of you and am sooo thankful for this time I have in Sweden! The season is starting to change and I am looking forward to all that fall and winter will bring! I really have no time because we need to go catch a train. I hope this is not too disappointing, I promise a better e-mail next week! I love you!



Trogen och Stadig, Är Jag Redo!!!!!
Faithful and Steady, I AM Ready!!!!!

Äldste Kundis :) :) :)

Trials make the heart grow stronger!!

Hej Familj!!!


I don't have much time so this is going to be rather short. First off, so you all know, I have some symptoms that returned this past Tuesday... Not to worry though! I am doing great and am in good contact with President and Sister Newell. I think it might be something to do with a pinched nerve or something similar, but nothing to be seriously concerned about. If the symptoms get worse or anything I am surrounded by loving people who are ready to take care and offer their help. I will be traveling to Stockholm on Wednesday for District Leader training so that will give me a chance to talk with President and see what we need to do to get this all figured out! Hopefully nothing will be needed in the future and I can just continue with the Lord's work. I guess I spoke too soon last week in letting you all know I was doing better. I guess I just wanted you all to not worry about me! :) Because there is nothing to worry about! Well, this week was not as great as we had planned... mainly due to my little health issue. But this next week is looking great and we are starting to figure out Linköping! We had our Branch Conference yesterday and lots of visitors from the Stake in Stockholm. After church we had a lunch with soups and sandwiches and LOTS of desserts! Mmmm! It was great to be a part of it all! Everyone was just so happy there! It is great! Also, we were invited to our Branch Mission Leader's home for dinner on Friday. He is a great guy! His wife is a great cook! haha They made deer for us! Mmmm! I haven't had stake in a long while, so it was a very nice meal! They have a dog who is named Vargo (pronounced Vah-reee-oh) which means good wolf!!! haha He is a four year old Siberian Husky. Probably one of the friendliest dogs I have ever met! It made me really want to have a Siberian Husky sometime in my future! However, Molly still has Vargo beat... Pretty hard to beat perfection!! lol :) Anyway, I left the house covered in fur. Kinda a down side... :( So let me get to the e-mails before I need to head off! Lets start with Matt! I love you Matt! Honors Stats huh? Sounds like fun! Pointers I would offer... Number one, make SURE that you truly UNDERSTAND everything you learn. If you don't, go in for some one on one help! Mrs. Dahl is really amazing when it comes to helping her students understand! Quite an amazing teacher! The class is a lot of fun, and at times it is really easy to goof off and not really be paying attention. Don't do that. Trust me, it leads to confusion and stress later on. (Normally around test time!) haha You will do great in her class though! Have fun with the whole M&M's thing. Bring her some but take the blue ones out for her. Trust me, she will love you for that! hahaha I hope I am remembering this all okay! :) I pray that your ACT went well and that you are happy with how you did! Get involved and be your very best self! Make friends with the teachers and prioritize! You know all that though... :) I love you Matt! Okay, now time for Dad! I love you Dad! To answer your questions, yes, I did lose feeling in my head and face. No, I did not buy anything new or change anything. No, we do not have different rooms... haha The rule is still the same. The other bedroom is being used as luggage storage and our ironing board is set up in there for when we need some good looking shirts! :) Lets see, haha yes! I am eating very well! Much better than pre-mission! It is great! Hahaha your story about your mission was just too much! haha I can just see ya'll riding your bikes in the middle of the cold night with steam coming off you! Sounds like a cold place! Yup, winter is coming, but I am not scared! It will be fun! :) Okay, I love you Dad! Have a great week! Let me know if you have anymore questions for me! Mom! I love you Mom! Thank you for the third package!! haha It is great having a supply of American goods in the apartment! Someones birthday is coming up?? It's not mine is it?!?! Well if it is, and I had a loving mother who asked me what I needed/wanted, I would have to tell her that I am unsure right now! Money in the account might just be the best option... I have a few things I would really like to buy before I head home. You know, things from the mission! Anyway, I will give it some thought and let you know soon! (oh, by the way, there is an $11.29 charge on my wells fargo credit card.. Sorry, but my other cards would not work at the place we went to!) That was soooo cool to see a picture of Tyler!!! I haven't really had contact with him for a while.. I hope all is well with him! Sounds like the funeral went well! Glad to hear that everyone was able to remember the good times and support each other! :) So you and everyone else knows, my "bummer" is doing fine!! Riding bikes around all the time has started to just become "the way it is" and I don't hurt nearly as much now! But that doesn't mean I pass up the opportunity to leave the bikes and just take the bus every now and again! ("You got that right.." -direct quote of what Äldste Maxwell said when I read that line to him! hahaha) My prayers will be with Josh, Hillary and Landon this week! I hope that they are feeling better and that whatever caused them to get sick is gone! It's no good when the whole family is sick! Blugh! Keep me posted on how they are feeling! :) Also, tell Russ Morin that he needs to get healed up for Basketball Season! I bet that is hard having to be out a whole season of Football.. Senior year too.. bummer.. I mean, ouch! I am sure he is just as optimistic and happy as ever though! He is always a good example of that! Tell the coaches to get Matt in the game more.. He worked too hard to just stand on the sides! That kid has a heart and a determination to do his best! Let him do it!!!!! Grrr!!! Sorry, a little bit of older brother for ya! Well, this has gone on for quite a while and we need to get on with our day! We have a cleaning inspection tomorrow and we must go buy some food for the week! Mmmm! I hope you have a great week Mom! I love you! Okay quick Spiritual Thought before I have to get outta here! This one comes from a comment Äldste Maxwell made in our last District Meeting! He said, "You gotta put in and forget about whatever is gonna come out." At the moment he was making reference to pole vaulting but in bigger context it means that when we set goals and stretch to achieve them we must forget about what we want to achieve and focus on the things we need to do or give or "put in" in order to achieve those goals. This is so true, and I love it! Set goals, and then don't go for them! Go for the smaller things that will make the large goal a reality! Simplify and the rate of success will increase! haha Just my two cents worth this week! Sorry this was rushed! I love you all! Have a fantastic week! :)


Trogen och Stadig, Är Jag Redo!!!!!
Faithful and Steady, I AM Ready!!!!!

Äldste Kundis :) :) :)

Can you feel it... wooo hoooooo!! This week's gonna be a good week!!

Äldste Maxwell and one of our Swedish Feasts!! Mmmmm!


Me and my worst enemy.. or, I guess, my best friend?? haha :)

Hej Familj!!!

Well as you may probably figure out from the subject line (Black Eyed Peas reference) I am feeling much better!!! I am sure you are all wondering about the health aspect more than anything so I will start with that. I was without feeling until the night of Saturday, September the 3rd. I realized that I was able to somewhat feel my arm! I was unbelievably happy! That next morning (the 4th) I was feeling even better, and able to feel more. It has progressively become better and better! I feel near 100%! Thank you soooo much for all of your prayers and thoughts and love! I know that the Lord was watching over me and continues at this very moment.

As for the new area and companion... incredible!!! Linköping is a great city! It is very big, but it really doesn't feel like it. We have no car and use our BIKES every single day! My rear-end is very upset with me now and has been since we got here. The bike seats are not the best out on the market. haha (especially with how much time we spend on them!) What I love most about the bikes is that when we head into town from our apartment we ride along one of the MANY bike paths and this particular one stretches along a river/stream in the middle of a forest in the middle of the city! It is so awesome! I need to figure out a way to take a video of it! It feels like I am flying by a rushing waterfall... mists and everything! Not to mention that there is a waterfall towards the end of the path!

The apartment is sick! We have TWO bathrooms and two bedrooms, a very large living room, dining room and a modest kitchen. Lets not leave out the walk-in closet and countless closets! It is a real gem! (life is hard in the Sweden Stockholm Mission.... bahaha!!!)

Sunday was fantastic! We went to church and met all of the members. They were so happy to meet the two mew missionaries. Very loving, very helpful people! We were invited to a few dinners and shown a very warm welcome! It will be a great time here in Linköping!

Okay, now about my awesome companion! His name is Äldste Austin Maxwell and he comes from... well Oregon is where he grew up, but his family just recently moved to New York State. He went to BYU for a semester before his mission and plans on returning to study engineering. He is a rock climber at heart and loves to have fun while working hard! That is very good!! Wooo! We have had so much fun together these past few days, it is awesome! One of our favorite meals is a traditional Swedish meal... Meatballs, potatoes, gravy, lingon sylt, vegetables of some kind... normally broccoli and rolls! It is awesome! Äldste Maxwell also likes fruit smoothies... haha I am in Heaven! :)

Anyway, I hope that everything is going well for you all back home!! I want to send a big Thank You to Mom for the recent packages I have been receiving! I have received two so far, and the office called today to inform me that I have another on its way. I am not sure who that one is from, but thank you!!!! Goodies and love from home are soooo great! :)

Lets see... what else.. Oh! Dad. Cancun? Are you serious? What do you think you are doing?! It is MY TURN and you know that! hahaha I am just kidding, but I am still wondering when my time will come... I guess time will tell!

I was very sad when I read about Bro. Carroll... He was a good man. I hope the family is doing okay. My prayers and thoughts are with them!

Okay let me get a Spiritual Thought in here.... (Just so you know right as I was about to type this thought Äldste Maxwell and I started bouncing in our computer chairs to the song that was playing... haha just a look into what is going on right now..) ;) haha!!! I just recently watched an old church film entitled "the award". It was in black and white and quite corny, but very good! The main message was about how we should treat everyone as we would like to be treated. We cannot judge those around us before we love them. There is good in every person. We just need to find it before we allow ourselves to find anything else. The movie was a good reminder to me of the godlike natures found within each and every one of us. It is there. Waiting to shine!!!! :) If you can find it... watch it.. It is a good movie!

Okay, well I am going to get going! I love you all soooo very much! I am doing great and looking forward to the awesome week ahead! You are in my prayers as I know I have been in yours. Family is great! :)

Trogen och Stadig, Är Jag Redo!!!!!
Faithful and Steady, I AM Ready!!!!!

Äldste Kundis :) :) :)