Week 54; November 17, 2014 – I Have Kept the Faith!
Hey Guys!
It hasn't been the busiest
week, but we've been blessed and the work is moving forward!
We taught a less-active member
named Jamie on Tuesday who still has a powerful testimony of the restored
gospel. It was our first lesson with him, so we learned about how he joined the
church and we shared our testimonies of Christ with him. He's fairly busy with
work, but he wants us to come back and he will come to church as soon as he
can.
Later that night I went on
splits with our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Brändh. We taught another
less-active member, Jamaal. Brother Brändh led the lesson by telling a story. He's
super good at origami, so he folded-up a piece of paper as he told the story and
he made one tear in it. The pieces spelled-out the letters “Love,” with a cross,
and he explained that the atonement of Christ is because he loves us. I really
hope I remember how to do that lesson because it was a super cool way to teach that
principle and keep your attention.
Later, we found our second
new investigator named Lisbeth. She was a lady that Elder Nielsen and I found on
splits about two weeks ago. She was really receptive at the door and said she'd
read a little out of the Book of Mormon. We didn't have much time, but we reviewed
the principals from the first lesson and answered some of her questions. We
hope to meet her again next week to teach the Plan of Salvation.
Last weekend we had Stake
Conference. It was great to see members from my last three areas. The conference
was wonderful. Nabeil from Norrköping was one of the speakers and he told an amazing
story about how his family came over from Syria and how he found and accepted
the Church in Sweden. All of the speakers were great, but what I'll remember the
most is the news from the members in Linköping that Carl-Arne had passed away.
I don't know if you guys remember me writing about Carl-Arne, but he was a man in
his mid-90's that Elder Farnworth and I used to teach. Of all the people I've
met on my mission I don't think anyone has had the impact on me that Carl-Arne
has had.
When Elder Farnworh and I
met with him Carl-Arne was fighting cancer and dealing with the trails of old
age. He was sick enough that no one would have blamed him if he stopped coming
to church, or even if he left his apartment for that matter. Despite his health
challenges, Carl-Arne felt it was his priesthood duty to pass the Sacrament in
his small branch in Linköping every week. Carl-Arne was almost blind and hard
of hearing, but even still, after the Sacrament was blessed, he would drop his
cane, pick up a tray, and pass the Sacrament to each member.
Carl-Arne showed me that
even the most basic responsibilities of the priesthood have a significant
meaning to someone who has given a life of service to the church. He still
considered passing the sacrament to be the most valuable thing he did every
week. He was the best example of enduring to the end that I've ever met. And I
hope that no matter what I do to serve in Church, whether it be leading an
Elders Quorum, or greeting people at the chapel door every Sunday, I hope to do
it with the same devotion and love that Carl-Arne showed in his last act of
service.
This verse is for Carl-Arne;
2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
-Äldste Stoeltzing
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