Week 14: "Birthday was great!"

My District threw a little party during our lunch. I ate so much sugar... too bad we don't have bikes in this area.

What a wonderful day it is today! 

(Jensen's Steakhouse in Sønderborg)

(Ældste Weaver and I at Jensen's Bøfhus for my birthday)

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Missionary Work

So, John may or may not have moved to another refugee camp.. we aren't entirely sure yet but we are praying we will be able to contact him or help him get in contact with other missionaries. 

We cut down our lessons with Tabia. We were teaching four a week.. sooo many... too many.. because we felt that she was progressing only to find out she wasn't really feeling anything at all and she only felt pressure to tell us that she was.. So we basically had a DTR (define the relationship) and helped each other understand expectations and desires. She really does want to know for herself if this is true. So we will be only meeting with her once a week so she can have time to think, ponder and pray over our message.

We got a new investigator! They live an hour away (our Area is really wide) in Tønder. We met with Haidy and her husband for the first time on Friday! they even had food for us. We had a wonderful first lesson on expectations and how we can help them and their concerns and what we can do to help them find their answers to their questions. We invited them to be baptized and they said they did not feel ready (I'd be surprised if they felt ready) but that they are willing to learn more and to know if it is something for them! Woooo!

We also met a 93 year old woman who was referred to us. She lost her husband recently and so we paid her a visit. She has a very cute home and I felt like Gandalf having to duck as I walked through the house. She expressed she was so grateful that we are young men taking two years to be away from our families to do what we do. She was so excited to get a Book of Mormon and have us over again.

We also had a very interesting meeting with one who might have been homelesss. my companion will never forget it.. check out one of the most recent recordings for that story hahah too funny.

Overall, One thing I want to express is my gratitude for our lives that we have. There are so many wonderful things and so many hard things in life. No matter what happens nothing can stop us from being resurrected! What a wonderful blessing it is to know that life will not end when we die. To know that there is more than a "short" 80 or so years to life brings so much comfort and joy. We have unlimited potential! The worth of souls is great in the sight of God! what is the worth of a soul. I believe it is it's capacity to become as God is. That is each one of ours true potential. To progress for eternity. To feel the infinite love and grace of our Savior! 

There are times when the sky will be cloudy and the waves tumultuous, but the light and hope that our worth is infinite brings a joy unlike anything else. It is only in and through Jesus Christ that we can experience this! Experience it for yourself! You can do it today! No matter how much money you may have, what you may feel or have previously believed. No matter where you come from, how old you are, or how many mistakes you have made. 

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE CHRIST'S LOVE TODAY! 

Don't wait. It's there. He's there. He's waiting for you. Embrace him. I know he loves all of us.

* Click to see what is possible because of Jesus Christ *

Elsker,

Ældste Haruch

Week 13: "What is God's will and how can we make His will ours?"

Man oh man, is this life that we have wonderful. 

I love life!! I know sometimes it can seem impossible to say that but when I feel that it's hard for me to say that, I know I need to look a little deeper.

(Enjoying a German Kinder Eier chocolate with a surprise in the middle)

This week has been great! I've started practicing a guitar that I strung up and am so excited to learn through out my mission. ah we also got a crock pot!! Crock pots are amazing. you just throw everything in and go about your work and you can come home to a wonderful meal.:) no work and all the reward. mmmmm

Click on the links below to hear Mormon hymns on guitar:

* All Creatures of our God and King *

* I Need Thee Every Hour *

* The Spirit of God *

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We've also been doing a lot of service for the members and are striving to look for more ways to serve them and their families. That has been one of our main messages to the members we visited this week. Service is truly able to heal our souls. 

(Denmark countryside)

You can read the scriptures we shared with them to ponder:

Matthew 10: 39

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 25: 40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

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(P-Day cerebral fun solving mysteries at the Escape House in Sønderborg)

One amazing experience I had this week was in our District Meeting! In our meeting, our District Leader Ældste Stevensen, had us one by one get up and bear our testimonies on why we chose to serve a mission. It was incredible. The spirit was so strong. There were many different reasons why each individual chose to serve a mission but all were to help others. That is exactly God's work and glory.

* Click to watch missionaries like Nate talk about why they chose to serve *

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We've met with John a few times and gave him a white shirt and tie to wear to church! I was so impressed he even remembered how to tie it! Hopefully I'll be able to get a picture of us and him in his new shirt and tie next week. He has such a wonderful testimony on Jesus Christ. His faith is powerful! We are excited to continue to help him prepare for baptism. 

    

 Our investigator Tabia has such a great desire to learn for herself if the Church is true but she is hardly doing that which she knows will help her receive an answer for herself. We feel that we have done all that we can do to help inspire and guide her. We even had a lesson that was completely silent. In seminary my 9th grade year, we had a lesson that was completely silent. We walked in and were shown slides of quotes, questions, and videos on the projector. We were encouraged to write our thoughts and feelings as we answered those questions. I remember how strong the spirit was and the effect that it had on my heart. I thought it would be helpful for Tabia if we did a similar lesson. It was a great time for her to feel that she was thinking for herself rather than having two random guys from the US telling her what they think. I hope and pray so much that she will see the love and peace she can have if she but seeks for herself.

Exciting things will be happening in the very very small branch in Sønderborg. Our branch president expressed his desire to really increase the numbers for sacrament meeting. In fact, it is a stake-wide goal in all Jutland to do the same. He expressed his impressions he has been receiving ever since he was called as Branch President three years ago to really integrate family history in the branch. I'm so excited!! We are getting two new DELL computers for our Family History center that has not been used in so long and we will really begin to strive to help the members and nonmembers excited on family history. I'm so excited because I had a fantastic experience with Family History only weeks before my mission! I'll post an audio recording of the story in the upcoming week. 

(The LDS Chapel in Sønderborg, Denmark)

Overall the need for members and missionaries to come together and strive to bring others closer to Christ is immense! Missionary work is not nearly as effective without members. It helps the members and their testimonies to be rooted into the foundation of Christ and truly strengthens the stakes of Zion when member missionary work is looked upon as a vital aspect of these latter days. 

* Click to hear Elder Ballard talk about the importance of Member Missionary work *

I would encourage all to consistently strive to find ways to help others come closer to Jesus Christ by inviting them to church, sharing your testimony, giving them one of the most precious things in the history of the world: the Book of Mormon! I know that as you do so, you will feel the blessings of Heaven pour out upon you. You will feel the love of God stronger than ever as you go about his work by helping him "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). 

May God bless you all and know that I love you all so much! Hurrah For Israel!

Elsker,

Ældste Haruch

Week 12: "Oh how I love my Savior!"

While I've been on my mission for even such a short time thus far, I have learned over and over what truly matters in life. I have grown to appreciate many things. The precious times and moments with my family, the wonderful taste of mom's home-made dinners, and even being able to glide, dancing across the dance floor while on a simple yet fun date.

(Our kitchen in the Sønderborg apartment)

(Not as good as Mom's)

There are many things in life which is important. The one thing that is important above all is to follow the commandment as the Savior said to "love one another, as I have loved you". In order to truly obey this commandment, we must answer the question, In what way has the Savior loved you? This question seems rhetorical and nearly mundane. It seems that the answer would not have to be sought for or discovered, rather it seems it would be so apparent that it would be a waste of time to understand this simple yet edifying question.

It is through understanding the true character of Christ that we can understand not only how the Savior loves us, but how we may be able to follow his commandment and love one another.

Many have read about and even felt his love for us through his infinite atonement for us countless times. Many have felt but denied, and even more have not heard of such a miracle to be performed among the inhabitants of this Earth. With his atonement being the pinnacle moment in the history of the universe, it is undeniable that was the greatest act of love that only the Son of God could perform for all of us.

However, we, as mortal and imperfect beings, are not able to perform such a sacrifice as the Savior did. I do not believe that is what the Savior asked of us when giving us the most important commandment of all. I believe it is by applying his true character and becoming more as he is.

(Windmill!)

(Splits in Frederacia and amazing mexican food)

Due to time I will not give all the examples of Christ's character I know of but I wish to share one that took place while our beloved Savior was upon the cross of Calvary. I choose this one because It is a wonderful example of his character.

After being betrayed and abandoned by his closest friends, whipped, scourged, and mocked by those who hated and despised him, and forsaken by his Father in Heaven, he did that which exemplifies and portrays his character so very well. He prayed, "Forgive them; for they know not what they do". He turned outwards rather than turning inwards. He turned out to help those who despised him, rather than turning in as the natural man would to worry for his own welfare. After all the Savior went through, he turned out.

I hope that we can all do the same. Many hard things come about in life and it is difficult to put off the natural man and turn outwards rather than in. Through patience and with the Savior's love and hlep, we can stive to do as Christ asked us to do. To "love one another, as I have loved you".

I love you all and am grateful for this wonderful opportunity I have to represent Jesus Christ for this short time.

* Click to hear an Apostle's message about the Savior *

Happy Birthday, President Thomas S. Monson!

Because it is our beloved prophet's birthday today, here is his wish for all of us as his birthday present:

“Do something for someone else on that day to make his or her life better. Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely and do something for them. That’s all I would ask.” —President Thomas S. Monson

* Click to hear President Monson's message to "Pass it On" *

Elsker,

     Ældste Haruch