Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Spiritual Ears


(Cue Theme Song)
Hello Everyone! And welcome to the next installment of the random week of an American Trying To Convince Danes That Christ Is Wonderful! Last week, we left our protagonists. Ældste Schaffer and Ældste Jepsen, on a happy note of having Rosa come to church. Now we see how they will face their next greatest challenge: Påskeferie! (Easter Break)

On that Monday, our heroes decided to talk to some people on the street. They became engaged in a riveting conversation with an Athiest man (who really did not have any good points to why God wouldn't exist). The man also accused them of not being Christian because we don't believe the Bible isn't everything we need. (Which was weird because being Christian means you believe in Christ, not the Bible...) The rest of the day for our spunky spiritual lads was quite uneventful. So they read "What Are You Pluto" with their friends. (The previously named childrens book was written by Ældste Hunt and Ældste Schaffer when they were companions 8 months ago. It's pretty great.)

The following day, Tuesday, was about the same excitement level. Our scavenging scoundrels had two lessons that both cancelled because they were not prepared to be blown away by the incredible truths (or they were sick). 

Upon the day after, Wednesday, the two fantastic fellows joined forces with the entire Zone! They all met in Fredericia and received extra strength and knowledge in order to assist in the raging war of the unseen world! They learned more deeply about the Plan of Salvation in order to answer any question with the scriptures. They also were able to enjoy some Minute to Win it games which were planned by the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders. (Apologies that no pictures are aquired as of the current moment.) Then, the two helped clean the building to a pristine amount, just like a slick jaguar after a nice conditioning bath in the Amazon.

Nearing the end of the week, Thursday, our favorite fyrer (gentlemen in Danish) were paired with the Dunking Duo of Frederica! Ældste Jepsen was favored to serve alongside Ældste Gottfredson on another important mission. These bantering bukineers were fortuned to find several lost souls while searching a street called Elmevej. One of which was named Borack (Brock, Barak, etc?). He was a young lad, who had been studying cooking! He was also quite interested in learning more about this religion and took a book to sufice his growing thirst for knowledge. He also agreed to meet the swashbuckling seadogs the next week. That evening, Ældste Cannon was sung to for his Birthday and all the others presented him with a guitar they had purchased in his honor. He was quite astounded.

Just as a last leg, on Friday, these gracious gentlemen were taken in by the Holmbo family! Lars (the father) picked up the gents from Kolding and took them to his home in Vejle where they were treated wonderfully by him and his family. Ældste Jepsen especially enjoyed himself as he was able to give a spiritual thought about the importance of scriptures (partly from 1 Nephi 19:23). The rest of the day, the purposeful pair made their way around knocking doors and contacting on the street. They weren't pleasured with too many excitements, but they returned home safely and happy.

And just when you thought they might not have enough guidance, General Conference came around!! The two worked on Weekly Planning and went contacting before heading to Fredericia to watch Conference in the church. (It was actually really cool! The Solemn Assembly was a powerful experience for the Spirit to really bear witness to each member personally.) After such, they returned to their quarters.

Upon that Easter morn, they returned to their spiritual stronghold to watch a day's worth of General Conference! They bounded with the others of the Priesthood ranks and were overcome with surprise to see so many of them join the English room for Conference! (Our ward is actually super weird in that. There were just as many people in the English room as were in the Danish room. They apparently just like it in English better.) Then the District was able to take some weird pictures with Easter Bunny Ears (thanks for Søster Andrizzi's mother who sent them). They all enjoyed the time and laughed together. The rest of the Conference was watched and loved by all, including a dinner in between which the Kolding Quatro had prepared (but mostly Ældste Preece). Then they all returned to their respective homesteads to think and ponder. (I'm quite intrigued by the combination of the Priesthood Quorums. Here in Denmark, they aren't always split so it won't be too large of a change. However, I do think it will help with the unity in the ward and the coordination thereof.)

As the dawn broke, upon the Second day of Easter (Denmark has weird holiday stuff), the District again combined to finish what they had started! (We watched the last session of Conference at the church) They were taught and tickled as the church grew to accept and welcome yet more people! (I was especially excited for the LAYTON UTAH TEMPLE!!! That is going to be incredible!!!) (I'm also quite excited for the Ministering change. I think that will allow a much more free way for members to become more Christlike in their associations with members. I also agree with Elder Holland that nothing will change unless the members take the opportunity.) After the ending of this historic session, the entirety of the District was taken away...!! (Dramatic music in the back ground!)

Tune in next week to find where they were taken and what happens to these Mystical Missionaries!! (Cue theme song!)

As far as a spiritual thought, I wanted to talk about the Spiritual Ears part. That was a play on words with Easter being on Conference and Søster Andrizzi's bunny ears, but it actually does have application. While watching General Conference, each person has the opportunity to receive incredibly powerful promptings in ways that each person can become more like our Savior. And sometimes it's not easy to hear. We had a Guest class a couple weeks ago where Steen (in the Bishopbric) said that he's worried the Spirit really isn't whispering. What is the Spirit is yelling into our ears and all we can hear is a whisper? I also read a scripture in D&C 88: 32 that says we will receive that which we are willing to. I would completely agree. We are only going to receive instruction if we are willing to listen and act. As we have just heard the servants of the Lord tell us what we need to do, please review your notes and prepare to study again and again to find what God really wants you to do personally.

Thank you for all your support and love! (And hello to all my Jepsen family who said hello when you all were at my house on Easter! Also hello to all my Clayson family, you're not left out either! I love you all!) Have a wonderful week!!
--
Ældste Bryant Jepsen's Scribe (which also happens to be himself)

- Some good Easter Conference breaks (Ældste Gottfredson and I were trying to imitate the Sisters' picture. Who do you think pulled it off better? ;) )
- We had a lot of candy for Påske :) I also made some Deviled Eggs again







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