Fifty plus teenagers ready to ask questions!

Hej Familj!!!

Wow, today is just a beautiful day! It is super warm outside and the sun is shining right on down! I honestly am shocked... I thought for sure we were going to get more snow.. However, it doesn't look like it! I might just be cursing myself and the next e-mail will probably be talking about how we received inches of fresh snow. Haha! I sure hope that doesn't happen! Easter is on its way and that is super exciting! We will be spending Easter at the Sahlberg's house (yes, they are the vegetarian family...), however we have a dinner at a member's house planned for almost every night this week! What a blessing! :) Before I move on, I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Aunt Heidi!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :) Now, I would like to once again explain the subject line of the e-mail. Being a missionary means talking to people and asking them questions to get them thinking and then providing them with answers to help them with their life and to help them draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is not too often that we run into people who just want to ask US questions. So, when we heard that a couple classes from one of the local "high schools" wanted to come and visit our church, we were amazed! So, this past Friday at around noon fifty plus teenagers ranging in age from 17 to 19 filed into the Skövde Chapel and took seats ready to listen and ask questions. We had a member there who went over a PowerPoint presentation about the church and it's history and then it was question time. Now, you must know that these students were studying religion, so the questions were pretty good! However, like history shows the questions slowly turn into less intelligent questions and we basically end up clearing rumors that have spread about "the Mormons". Hahaha I enjoy this because of the looks on the faces of the students when they hear that what they have been told is quite wrong and inaccurate. Not to mention that a few even laugh at the question they just asked because they finally understand how ridiculous it sounds!! haha It is just awesome!! I make sure to have a little bit of fun with them and get them to laugh. Normally it is by saying something like, "Hello, my name is Elder Kundis.. yes, I AM that guy that knocked on your door." haha :) One of my favorite parts of the whole thing is when I get to bear testimony about what we do as missionaries! My strongest experience was actually during a school teach a while back when a girl asked me the question, "If no one wants to listen to you, and they tell you to leave, isn't that hard?" to which I replied, "Yes, it is very hard. It has taken quite a while to learn to remain positive." The girl then asked me, "Then why do you do it? Why do you continue to go out? I don't understand.. tell me why." I then replied, "I will tell you why.. It is because I know what I know, and I know it's TRUE. Getting rejected hundreds of times a day, getting yelled at, not being able to ride a bus without constant stares followed by hushed whispers of unkind words is NOT fun. But, Jesus Christ lives, His church has been restored and that fact is more important than my hurt feelings." I then continued on to bear my testimony more fully and answered more questions. It was a strong feeling and an excellent opportunity to touch some hearts. That girl, as well as others I believe, understood that I am as happy as can be, doing the Lord's work! The Spirit touched me that day, and continues to touch me as I go out and do the Lord's will. I guess what I would like to get at here is that School Visits are fun.. and Spiritual! :) They ARE a little intimidating at first, but all I do is trust in the Lord and he helps me without fail! :) Okay, this has gone on far too long! I will get to the e-mails now. :) First up this week is Dad! I love you Dad! Jordan sounds like he did an amazing job with his talk! I really wish I could have been there to hear it because Jordan is awesome. It sounds like he had some really good experiences to share and to bear testimony of! Awesome! I will be praying for him as he is entering the MTC on Wednesday! Wow, what is going on in the Two Rivers Ward?!? I will be praying for Sister Buck and Sister Compton!! Those sound terrible! Good thing that both are doing better and healing. Keep me up to date on them! So, Mom and Matt are heading to Utah huh? Thats awesome! What happened with you Dad!? Why did you draw the short end of the stick? haha I guess the man of the house needs to sacrifice some times! :) I am blessed with a Father who knows how to take care of his family! woo! SNOW?? Still!? That is just too bad! I hope you get some warm weather fast! I will try and blow some that way for you.. :) Thank you for your e-mail Dad! I love you so much and pray for you always! Okay, next up this week is Matt! I love you Matt! You are lookin' pretty fine in that picture you sent me! Who were those two girls by you?? Were they your, friends? hahaha :) I love ya brotha! You sound excited to travel to Utah with Mom... Good! You should be! How lucky are you! :) Have fun while you are there and give Landon a big hug for me! Track is moving right along for you isn't it! How fun! I remember those weekend track meets very well! The worst was when they were IN Great Falls and you had to sit at Memorial Stadium all day until everything was finished, even if your event was at the very beginning.. blugh.. lol I also DO remember having to drive with my head out of the window in the mornings because of the frost on the windshield. What fun memories we have with that. Even if I was a little agitated at the fact you ran back inside to make a breakfast drink "really fast" haha :) ;) I love ya! I hope you have a great week and a fun time in Utah! Okay, next up is Mom! I love you Mom! Haha, I liked your comment about writing on the e-mail last. It is so true!! But even if Dad and Matt cover everything, you go into most of the details and include your love! Thats the most important! haha It was fun to hear that the Pitchers were at church on Sunday! I miss their family so much! I hope they are doing well! You went to the doctor?! You better get over this cold fast! I don't like it at all! I bet a big burger and fries from In-n-Out would do the trick! haha :) Have a wonderful time in Utah!! Promise me that you will spend some time NOT holding Landon.. haha I don't want you to spend all of your time cuddling that little guy! Ahh, what am I saying.. There is no use! you will probably hold him 24/7 no matter what I say! haha Enjoy it! :) OH!! Before I forget! We have been asked to remind you that MOTHER'S DAY is coming up and that I will be calling!! Wooo! Have we found a different card to use ?? ?? ?? I do not want a repeat of last time! haha :) Anyway, I should probably get going! I love you Mom! Have a great trip, drive safely and most importantly, give Landon lots of lovin' for me! :) Okay, well now it is time for my Spiritual Thought! It comes from Matthew 19 this week! "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments... The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." (Matthew 19:16-17, 20-22) This is one of my favorite stories out of the New Testament. The young rich man sadly did not sell all of his possessions and in the end was not able to follow the commandments of the Lord. But why would the Lord ask the young man to sell all that he had?? The man followed all of the commandments and had obviously been blessed in Earthly riches. But right when he thought he was good, the Lord threw a curve ball at him! The Lord uncovered the fact that the young rich man was not willing to sacrifice all that he had in order to follow the Savior and enter into eternal life. As if to think that his Earthly treasures would be better to hold on to than an eternity of "riches" and happiness!! I would like to apply this story to us! :) No, I am not saying that we need to sell all that we have, give it to the poor and go on missions for the rest of our time here on Earth. However, I am saying that we should take a deep look at ourselves. Sure, we may be doing everything we are asked to do, but is our heart in it? When it comes right down to it, are we truly followers of Jesus Christ? I believe that we are. In fact, I know that we are! We do out best to follow our Lord and our Savior. But we can not get comfy.. haha If that makes sense.. We must continually step back and take a look. Are there things that we do that we know are wrong? Are these things, in the end, going to keep us from our ultimate goal of returning to live with our Father in Heaven again? Are these things holding us back from life eternal?? Life is a constant building process. We try the best we can every day, but we are not perfect. No one is. I just hope that this story of the rich young man can help us in our lives. Let us find those things that we might find harmless and fix them. Whatever they may be, they are not worth holding on to. :) I know Jesus Christ lives. I know that he cares about me and loves me more than I could ever comprehend. I know that as I work to become more and more like him and follow his example, he will bless me. As I continually work to "sell my riches" and get my life in order I know and can see happiness in my life. I know the Gospel is true, and for that, I am oh soooo grateful! I love you family and friends! Have a great week and an AMAZING EASTER!! What a happy time for all! :)

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

Äldste Kundis :) :) :)