Happy 4th of July!

I'm feeling extra patriotic today because I have to make up for the lack of Americans here in Århus:) A new level of American pride came out of Elder Lee and I this morning as we took on the day. I think it is just because we have red, white and blue streaming through our veins. *Merica

Well this past week was a trip! We had a stellar 7 days in a row and we aim to keep them coming. Here is what went down into the books:

Monday:

Got eaten up by transfer day haha. We spent most of our time helping people move their stuff on and off of trains. The sun was shining though so no worries.

Tuesday:

We had Elder Eaves still with us on splits because of some mix ups. So Elder Lee, Eaves, and I took on the city and had some great things happen. Everyone seemed to be out to chat that day so we had a TON of conversations that went places. I would venture to say that it was the most amount of positive conversations/lessons with people in one day than I have ever had thus far. We met a guy named Kevin Ocean who is a 60 year old fitness fanatic and sells controversial body building supplements (Elder Lee knows a lot about a lot in the world of lifting) But he was pretty cool haha. I should Have taken a picture with him...

We were walking past some of the open air seating for a bar on the gå gade and a lady and some dude she was with, both in their fifty's I would guess, were sitting there with two girls our age having a drink. They said as we walked past, "hey are you Mormons?" We told them yes and then the invited us to sit down for a drink. When we said we don't drink alochol and explained why, they said okay and then got up and ordered the fanciest Pepsi's I have ever had and then told us to sit (i mean... as fancy as pepsi can get haha). So we sat down and had a good long talk with them. It was kinda of like we were teaching three people three different lessons because the guy turned to Elder Lee and started chatting with him, the older lady just yelled across the table to me, and the two girls asked Elder Eaves a bunch of questions. One of the girls named Ema was actually super religious and had great questions. We ended up having a great hour long lesson with them all haha.

Oh yea i forgot to add something, right after that the girls had to go print out some tickets for Roskilde fest (the biggest one week concert/festival in Denmark) but the problem was that the printer shop was closed. Because Ema was actually interested in checking out what LDS is all about, I offered that they could use the one in our church building and they were way stoked we offered. They also wanted a tour of the building to check it out, so of course we had some time to show them around. Ema actually wanted to come back and try out church so we will see what happens. She said she lives right next door to the building so it would be neat to see what actually happens every Sunday.

Wednesday:

Met with our friend C*. She is super awesome! We had a great lesson and she said she feels the spirit every time we come:) So we will see what happens...

Helped a girl in the ward move. Got some ice cream for it. yes.

Thursday and Friday we were in København for a meeting to plan the direction of the mission for the next six months. Great two days and a lot of new hope to continue all of the success. We had 7 baptisms in the past 6 weeks... that is the most that have happened here in six weeks than any other 6 week period for the past two years I think. So great:)

Saturday:

We rode more trains (whooo...) up to Aalborg to do a baptismal interview for a way cool guy named Christian. Super great experience to meet someone with simple and strong faith like him. Needless to say, he passed - the work is really picking up here in Denmark.

Sunday:

Was way great! We got to teach the 12-18 year old class in second hour and it was a neat experience. I had flashbacks to when I had lessons taught by the missionaries in church so it was a cool experience for me to be on the other side of it:)

Also, We fasted basically to work super hard and we found a girl named A*. At first she was about to just shut the door, but it was amazing to see her open her heart to what we were saying and watch the spirit soften her to listen and want to meet again. Great experience!

We also found out this week that we will be getting the four man apartment back in Århus! Elder Erickson (past comp) and Elder Stephens are going to be joining us because they merged two branches here to make a bigger branch/ward so there are no longer Elders directly in one of the areas. So im wayyy stoked for that:)

Spiritual thought:

3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation. 4 You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned. 5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.

- Doctrine and Covenants Section 31

Pretty sweet scripture! I almost want to change my mission plaque scripture to this one but we are making it are companionship and maybe even zone scripture. I read it one morning and it just got me super stoked on life! So to all those preparing to go on missions... ponder this.

Have a great day! Light off a flare or something for me tonight when your blowing things up and eating apple pie and burgers.

With Freedom,

Ældste J