Jag är fart

Every transfer (6 week period) we do this thing called an engelska fast or english fast for those of you who didn't guess haha. This means that we try our best to go a full week without any english which is really cool and pretty difficult. But why do it? There are a few reasons, the main few

- i want to prove i can do it

- i want (need) to improve my swedish lol

- we are rewarded with a movie at the end of the week that we watch in swedish.

So the first time I tried decently hard at this english fast, i got blessed. WE GOT TO WATCH CARS. It was so hype and much needed. The title of the email is what Lightning McQueen says, it means "I am speed" (speed = fart in swedish🤣🤣) i laughed a little too hard and a little too long at that haha

This week was very good! First and foremost, our friend Andreas got baptized. It was a super spiritual experience for him and for everyone there. I realized i havent said anything about this dude yet so let me tell you guys his really cool story. 

He is 27 now, but 10 years ago he decided to be a foreign exchange student in the United States. He ended up living in Rigby Idaho for a year. He was not a believer at all When he left (as a typical swedish person) but he went to a member family in idaho. He went to church, started praying and even went to seminary his last 3 months. He then moved back to sweden and was confused. He had changed his perspective on God but suddenly felt super alone in his new faith so he stopped going to church and all of that. Now fast forward to about 2 years ago. He started trying to revive his faith. He went to the Swedish church and read the bible. He then met the missionaries (us) about 2 months ago. He took this as a sign from God that he needed to join the LDS church. 

His story fills me with so much joy. So many people helped him get to where he is. It helps me know that as a missionary I just need to make little positive impacts in peoples days, and hopefully one day they accept the faith. Another thing i love is that as I think about Andreas's story, God was aware and with him the whole time. God has a plan for each of us! Andreas needed to wait 10 years before finally being baptized. Sometimes we have to wait, but I know that God is aware of us ALWAYS. Just like Elder Holland mentioned in his talk in general conference, God answers every single prayer.

Andreas told me after his baptism, "I feel like a new man" and after his confirmation he said, "I felt the spirit so strongly" I'm so proud of him. I know that baptism with proper authority is how we come closer to God.

Other than that we had some other cool stuff happen

- Transfer calls! I will be getting a new companion on Thursday. His name is Äldste Nelson and he's from Las Vegas. I don't know him but im sure he'll be awesome!

- we started a basketball night this week and a decent amount of people were there! They also brought their speaker and music... it was amazing. It felt like old times haha.

- this happened last week but i forgot to write about it. I was sad because taylor swift dropped a new album and i wasnt there to listen, but then my favorite artist as a missionary dropped an album the same day. It shows how aware God is of me haha! Shout out Anne Wilson, shes the one keeping me going 😂

-It hit 70 degrees yesterday. It was heavenly! Not to sound like an ungrateful person butttt if it gets any warmer I'm kind of screwed because Sweden does have air conditioning because its so cold. so if it warms up i might die of heat. I can't win haha. But 70 is amazing I'm not complaining about that but i hope yall understand what im saying.

-i went on some more splits this week with two of my favorite elders. Shoutout elders Shakespear and Peterson. I learned a lot from them.

-i hit 11 months👀 one more until halfway!

Okay everyone im going to try to do a spiritual thought so hopefully this makes sense.

I've been thinking this week about why statistically less people get baptized in Sweden than other places. 

Do they send worse missionaries here?

Does God love people here less? (Obviously not)

Is it the missionaries fault or members or is it just that way up here?

Here is what I came to. I know God loves each of us the same. He loves us infinitely. All of the missionaries here are incredible disciples of Jesus Christ. They are obedient and work hard. It can't be our fault. (Obviously we are all growing and becoming better missionaries and people so we can be better at teaching and maybe see an impact in that way) i think one reason why less people love Jesus Christ and God here in Sweden is because of pride.

When people have a good job, house, family and they think they're happy, they think they do not need God. When in contrast people who have nothing have to rely and turn to God for everything. Because Sweden is a pretty well set off country most people think that they're alright. They don't need God. What they don’t know is the incredible increase of joy, peace and hope that comes with a faith in God.

So how do we gain this faith? This extreme happiness? It cant be as easy as simply looking for it? As asking for it? 

Yes it is that easy.

We need to humble ourselves and come to Jesus Christ. People who are well set off normally have a harder time turning to Jesus. We need to put our pride aside. We need to kneel and ask for forgiveness, we need to put our will and plan to the side and trust God. 

We need to be humble. Even as missionaries or members of the church we can all still work on our humility. I know i can definitely work on it. I invite all of us to find ways to give our lives to the Lord and humble ourselves. I know that his plan is a lot better than ours.

I love and miss all of you. I hope you know that you are important and at least two people care about you God and me (probably a lot more than that but each of you have at least two haha) 

Kämpa på I tro! 

Med kärlek

-Äldste Jackson Calder