3 Nephi 14:11 - January 23, 2017

Elder Adams and Elder Francis

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Everyone,

I got a new companion today. It is Elder Adams, and he was in Taastrup in København. It was a long transfer morning with both trains being delayed from a few minutes to 40 minutes. Erik drove us up to our apartment when we finally arrived, so that was really nice.

Our district before transfers

Sunday was one of my favorite days. Beata walked into church from off the street. I started talking to her before the meeting. I believe that she is looking for the truth because she mentioned a few churches that she has been to. Sacrament was wonderful because it was on the power of prayer. She listened intently, and I think that she felt something. We will see where it goes because she might come next week. 

Romans 8:24 - January 16, 2017

Splits with Elder Hager

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Everyone,

Another week here in Randers is gone by, and we (Elder Ericksen and I)  are fairly sure that this next week will be our last together. Friday we found out that President was coming for interviews to Århus. He strongly hinted to both of us that Elder Ericksen would be leaving.

This week we met an interesting member up in Hobro. She invited us over for dinner, and she had a nonmember friend over. For the appointment we ate typical Christmas food. Half of the appointment they spent in the kitchen, and the other half was eating with us. Over dinner she told us lots of interesting stories about visions that she and her friends have had. We tried to bring the spirit with us, and we hope that we made an impact on them.

We put a stand up in the gågade this week. The kommune gave us permission. Lots of people knew who we were when we set up. In all we gave out 2 copies of Mormons Bog, and talked with several people. It was a fun experience for us to spread our message.

John 16:2 - January 9, 2017

My water froze when we worked today

Everyone,

The first week of the new year is now gone. It was really great here in Randers. The branch members shared with us some miracle stories that occured last week. Moments they had to share the gospel with others and with people that they didn't know very well. Their testimonies really helped us with the work.

Cleaning

Apartment inspections were this week. The Forslunds came up from Herning to do it. When they walked in Sister Forslund said is was 100% better than the last time that they came. That was good to hear. 

Surprise! - January 1, 2017

Elder Francis, Jimmie, Elder Erickson at Jimmie's baptism

Happy New Year!

Everyone,

This takes a little explaining. Because of the holiday we were asked to not work today, Sunday 1st January 2016. Tomorrow is our big, I mean big, cleaning day throughout the mission. President O'Bryant has given us permission today, so that we could spend all day tomorrow cleaning.

Now to our week. Splits was in Århus this week from Monday to Tuesday. I got to spend some time with Elder Perkins. It is always fun to work with him. Monday night there was a big storm here, and the wind was really bad. We ended up meeting Johannes. On that dark windy street in Århus we had a great 30 minute gospel conversation with him. He had some of the best questions for us. I hope the Århus Elders can meet with him again because he seemed sincerely interested in our message.

Psalms 144:15 - December 26, 2016

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

Everyone,

This has been a fun Christmas here in Denmark. Spending it here in Randers has been great because we are with members who we have really come to know and love.

We had Zone Conference in Århus this week. The Grinch came the night before and took 2/3 of all of the packages from the mission van. That was really sad. The stake president came to speak to all of us, and he found out about it. He then got pens for all of the Elders and the Sisters got ornaments. Even without all of the gifts it was still Christmas for us. We had some wonderful trainings about the coming year, and Sister O'Bryant showed us The Nativity. We watched "Finding Dory" before we all traveled home.

Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas with our whole family together!

We had a WONDERFUL phone call with Ben on Christmas Day! He Skyped from a member's home. It was so good to visit with him and see him! He just glowed through the screen!

Ben loved seeing Nico's hair! We've kept it long to show Ben Nico's baby curls.

He said they have had a wonderful Christmas season despite the dark and cold. But the days are getting longer now! He told us about the nativities and Christmas cookies they took to members.

Nico recognized Ben!

Sadly enough, he told us that all of the mission Christmas packages were in a van at their Christmas zone conference. During the night before the conference, the van was broken into and 1/3 of the packages were stolen. One of the two packets we sent to Ben was stolen, so he only received half of his homemade nativity. He missed out on the ties, socks, and some other fun things we sent. Still, "Christmas doesn't come from the store. Christmas means a little bit more!" Ben was still in good spirits.

Isaiah 60:19 - December 19, 2016

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but theLord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Everyone,

We are almost done losing sunlight here in Denmark. Today we talked about how we only have two more days, and then the days will get longer. This may seem like a strange conversation to have for two missionaries, but when you haven't seen the sun in like 4 days than it makes perfect sense. We have had thick clouds and fog which have blocked out the sun. There is still light, but you don't see where it is coming from.

Brian met with us last week. We went over "The Living Christ" with him. The spirit was there, and it was a great reminder for us as well. Then he brought up some concerns about the word of wisdom. He has a mormon friend from Utah who drinks when he come to conferences here in Europe. This is now a big roadblock with his progress. We are working on helping him gain a testimony in his heart of the gospel.  -- For all of the kids who are reading this. Don't compromise your standards because others are doing it too! Your example could really affect someone!

District meeting was great. We had it at the Larsens' apartment in Århus. There were only six of us because the other four missionaries were in the missionary choir. We discussed ideas about working through the holiday season.