Week 11: "Best tracting day thus far!"

This week I had the best contacting, tracting, and lesson of my mission thus far. It was not because of me but the spirit.

One of the great things about Denmark is that they have a word they love. That word is Hygge (heu-gah). Hygge is a word to describe the feeling you can get when you are with those you love, in a comfortable setting or just feeling peace. So the tough thing about missionary work here is that it seems that everyone doesn't want you to mess with their Hygge. The key is to just give Hygge back.

* Click to view an explanation of the Danish idea of "Hygge" *

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We were on splits (when another pair of missionaries from another area will come to your area to serve with you for a day), and another missionary named Ældste Hamp was assigned to serve with me that day. We went out to stop by some potentials that we had but no luck.

(Random starfish that we found while walking through the seaside neighborhood)

We then went to a street on the edge of Sønderborg. We were walking down the street when I looked up some steps to see a house behind some hedges.

Then I felt the "nudge" from the spirit to go and knock on that door. We kept walking though due to the great conversation I was having with my companion. I felt the prompting again but continued to walk. After a few more steps when we were about to reach the end of the street, I finally said we should turn back.

We knocked on the house and she undoubtedly knew who we were and didn't want anything to do with us. Well, with the knowledge that we needed to be there, we went to the house next door. We knocked and were greeted with the same reply. However, we kept talking. We kept the conversation alive and well. As we kept asking more questions to get to know her and her beliefs, she almost started to become angry with us. She then mentioned the death of her beloved husband.

We paused. Ældste Hamp then asked for a plan of salvation pamphlet from me. He then showed her a diagram of the plan of salvation and explained God's plan for us. As the explanation went on, it seemed as if the air became still and there was an atmosphere of reverence being created as we described God's plan he created for us.

* Click to watch an explanation of The Plan of Salvation *

When we finished, we stood in silence. She was pondering. It has been promised that when we are feeling and being edified by the spirit, those who we are teaching are also feeling and being edified by the spirit as well. So I felt prompted to tell her,"When you were listening, you felt something. Something you haven't felt before. Something good."

She nodded in reverance.

"That is God's spirit. That is his spirit testifying to you that this is true."  

(Galations 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.")

After hearing that, she said she would read the pamphlet and wanted us to return again.

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(New Muslim brothers.  They are the Best and Friendliest people!)

There were a few other experiences that same day that has changed my perspective on missionary work. Different circumstances with different people with different needs. However, the principal was the same.

As you follow the still small voice, the simple and quite feeling to do something, you will begin to see God's hand work miracles among men. As we put forth our faith and ACT, we will see the hand of God and how he is mindful of all of his children.

In 3 Nephi 13: 21, Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Make God's will your treasure. Give him all that you have. Jesus Christ is the way. He is the ONLY way. I know he lives. I know he loves us. He is our Savior. He is our King. He is our friend who will always be there for us. I know this work is true. I know God is our Heavenly Father and he is mindful of all of our desires. "He hears your prayers. He is listening. You are his child. His love now surrounds you."

* Click to hear "A Child's Prayer", a song Nate sang as a child *

Elsker,
Ældste Haruch