Monday was the Second day of Easter! So we couldn't wash our clothes... But the day started with some good old basketball! We played with quite a few other missionaries, which was pretty fun! Then we taught Henrik! We wanted to invite him to baptism, but he's very quiet so it's hard to tell what he thinks and where he's at. Basically, he said he doesn't want to be a part of any specific religion, but will still read, pray, and come to church. We're hoping as we get him more involved that it will click for him. He has some interesting beliefs otherwise though... There are some pyramids around his house with different elements and springs in them to give off a good energy. He's a good guy. :) I also made brownies that evening, but we ran out of time to bake them.
Tuesday thus
included washing clothes and buying groceries. We also had some good knocking
out on some houses. We had a funny conversation with a proud Tesla owner about
the practicality of electric cars. Turns out, they're quite practical in
Europe! Sadly, Million and Titi, the Eritrean couple Ældste Campbell and I
taught, burned our appointment. We're still trying to get a hold of them. I
also baked those brownies, and they were delicious. :) That evening, we ate
with the Carl family! They're super cool! That's Frederik's family, but he was
on a school trip, so it was his parents, brother David, and sister, Laura.
They're super fun and love missionaries!
Wednesday
was a weird day. We had basically nothing but finding in the morning. Then we
had to go down to Frederiksberg again, so we were able to scheme a couple hours
of contacting with Ældste Moulton and Ældste Myers! It was awesome!! They also
made us dinner, which was wonderful!
On Thursday,
we stopped by Ole, who came to church, in order to see if he would progress. We
tried teaching him quite a few things, but he wasn't super interested in acting
on them, unfortunately. He's a super nice guy though! Then we had Weekly Planning,
which was good. Finally, we went out to Farum to stop by some people and knock!
We met a Slovakian lady who moved to Denmark to create art. She wasn't too
stoked to have us over, but asked for our card because she's searching for a
church group!
Friday
included interviews! We were up in Allerød, where President Olsen came and
talked with us before our District Council. The Zone Leaders, Ældste Anderson
and Ældste McBride, came and gave us a training about "reloading" our
spiritual weapons and keeping a good teaching pool. Then we had Blitz Splits!
We sent some people up to Hillerød and then the rest of us knocked down in
Allerød. I got to knock with Ældste Campbell, and we had a fun time! We
discussed "Edderkrop-busters" which will include a Ghostbusters-type
squad battling evil spiders through the use of throwing cards. It'll be all the
rage, I'm sure. After Blitz Splits though, the S-tog's weren't running and we
weren't allowed to take bikes on the replacement busses. So Ældste Walton and I
were in charge of getting everyone home safe! The Hillerød Sisters just left
their bikes, and the Ballerup Elders could just ride with the Zone Leaders.
Then the Lyngby Sisters and us biked back to Birkerød where they could catch a
different bus and then S-tog to get home! It was quite exciting! That basically
threw off the rest of the day though.
Saturday was
weird! We got a call after knocking in the morning from a man who knows Ældste
Walton's sister! So Brian and his son, who are visiting to see Family History
sites, took us out for kebab after we had already eaten lunch! It was really
fun though! They're super cool! Then we headed to Hillerød to cover a lesson
that the Sisters accidentally scheduled at the same time as another lesson. But
"Patrick" never showed up, so we just did language study in the
library until we left for an eating appointment. However, the Sisters then
called us and explained their bikes were still in Allerød! So we ran over and
took the train down to Allerød, stole a couple women's bikes (which were still
locked with helmets on them!), and then carried them back to Hillerød in order
to make a northbound train with a couple minutes to spare! We all ate with the
Nielsen family! They're exciting! It includes the parents, Susanna and her husband
who comes from Bornholm (but I don't know his name), Isabella and her 1yr old,
half-Afghani son, Daniel. Along with the twins, Bianca (who serves part time in
the temple) and Benjamin (who raises and sells exotic reptiles). So their
family is a little all over the place! Isabella asked us to give Daniel a
blessing, which was super cute, but a bit difficult as he dodged our hands. ;)
Sunday was
quite relaxed in comparison! We went to choir, before church! Unfortunately we
came 20 minutes late, but they were excited to hear I could sing tenor! But we
practiced a song that we then sang in Sacrament Meeting! It was fun! Otherwise,
we knocked out in Farum and talked with a Lebanese man, Khaled, who was quite
interested in researching our religion! We also talked to a lady who was quite
beside herself because she felt bad we followed a prophet, but wouldn't hear
anything about what he actually does as a prophet.
Spiritual
thoughts! It's been a long and sometimes frustrating week. Ældste Walton and I
had a companionship (or fælles) study where we talked about Christ's Atonement
and we realized that Christ was on the cross for 9 hours. That's a really long
time. And though sometimes, going out and contacting or knocking for 4 hours
doesn't sound like a joyful activity, it's not nearly the same. Sometimes, as
Elder Holland once said, we might be asked to pay a token of that which Christ,
Himself paid. Not that anything we do could possibly measure up to what He did,
but sometimes we have to bear burdens for His namesake. Life is not easy, and
that's why we're here. Because He has given us the opportunity to become more,
and that wasn't easy either. So yes, it will be uncomfortable and frustrating,
and that's alright. God's plan includes you being frustrated and beaten down
occasionally. It just so happens that it also includes you being raised up
again. That's why He is important.
Have a great
week!
--
Ældste
Jepsen
- The Yellow
(Elderberry, I think) Fields of Denmark!
- Also a
very large snail
