This week
has been overflowing with eating appointments! It's honestly been quite
ridiculous! That's not something I'm used to, but we've had a dinner or lunch
appointment every day except Sunday, where some members gave us food to take
home for dinner instead.
Monday was
already crazy! We had to head down to Copenhagen to pick up our car (which was
coming from the now closed Kolding area). So we just went down a couple hours
early and visited Nyhavn, Vor Frue Kirke, etc. Then we got our car at the KBH
Central Station and we drove it back! We then drove with Christian and Kate
Ravn up to Helsinge to meet with Inger. She's a super sweet lady who loved
coming to church (the one time she's been) and has only been taught once by the
Sisters. We had an incredible Restoration lesson with her and she committed to
read and pray, and also said she would be baptized as she comes to more fully
know it's something she wants! Then we hurried back down to Allerød to eat with
the Carl Family!! It was hilarious! Frederik was home this time, and he made so
many jokes that half of the eating appointment was all of us just laughing! It
was quite exciting! And he's way down to come out again with us on splits!
(*fist pump*)
Tuesday was
also pretty intense! We had some contacting in the morning, some stop by's in
Birkerød in the afternoon, and then we taught a Jehovah's Witness! Or at least
we tried. Ældste Harding and Ældste Owen knocked into him while I taught Rasmus
with Ældste Walton, and they made an appointment because the man seemed very
calm and open. And, frankly, that man was. But he invited a friend, who was
significantly less open. We delivered a choppy lesson of what Mormons Bog is
and to read and pray about it, while also being bombarded by Bible facts and
contradictory translations. Sadly, by the time we got out, we were late to our
other appointment with Mark and Anja! However, we came in time to help Mark
finish dinner (cudos to Ældste Harding for making his first guacamole, which
was pretty good), before Anja and the kids got home. Afterwards, we talked with
Mark and Anja, mostly about what Anja thought. She said she liked coming to
church, but was still very hesitant and unsure about reading, praying, etc.
They committed to read (Mark) and listen (Anja) to a chapter and then pray as a
family. Their family is honestly super cool! We just feel right at home there.
Wednesday
was just miraculous! (Also includes the spiritual thought because I'm pressed
on time.) We had a lunch appointment with John and Lone Thomson, who are super
cool! We had planned to teach the Plan of Salvation, but Lone said she had
learned about it already in Temple Prep class, which caught me off guard. So we
asked, "What makes you interested in Temple Prep class?" and she
basically said because she was going to be baptized and sealed to John in the
temple. (*fist pump again!*) So we ended up just pulling out the baptismal
interview questions to review with her, which she easily passed doctrinally.
She's still fighting her urge to smoke though. She has received a blessing and
has a plan, so we basically just pray for her and follow up! Lone is just quite
set to be baptized as soon as possible!
After that
amazingly easy appointment, we did some stop by's in Kokkedal, where we walked
back and forth from the car to find out that the next address was actually in
the same complex, just a different street. One woman was taught by the Sisters
quite a few times, but when we came by she wasn't home. As we were leaving, her
husband, Kasper, came up with their daughter. We told him who we were and he
let us right in! He had some doubts/questions about his Catholic faith, which
have bugged him for a while. After explaining how we can receive answers from
Mormons Bog, he prayed and thanked God for sending us to possibly answer the
questions he's had! It was super cool!! And it was exactly the right time for
us to be trying to stop by. Not a second too late or too early.
Thursday was
splits (but we both had eating appointments)! We went down to Maglegårds Allé
for interviews and District Council, and then I got to work with Ældste Peterson
(from Gilbert, AZ) in Ballerup/Søborg. We ate dinner with Pres. Olsen's
parents, which was super hyggeligt!! We also did some Less Active stop by's and
ended up sharing a spiritual thought by the sauna (luckily not in it, though
she offered the key if we wanted to stay after and relax a bit). Then we played
Cover Your Assests in the Ballerup 6 man apartment (or "The Castle"
as we call it, because it's so big). It was way fun!
Friday
included some good ol' contacting in Ballerup, a weird lesson with some super
nice Muslims, buying a hot dog from a hot dog cart, and then driving home to
Hillerød! Ældste Harding and I then worked a bit in Uglevangen before going
over to eat with Mei! She had also invited Bishop Reuter and his wife, who are
her ministering couple. It was really interesting, but fun! They loved Mei's Chinese
food! I did too, of course. Mei is just the best! After that appointment, we
got a call from Steffan (Annelise's husband), who asked for some help the next
day in exchange for some food!
So here
comes Saturday, and we do our Weekly Planning, as usual. And it takes a long
time, as usual, because we have so many people we're working and coordinating
with, which is not usual and thus a huge blessing! And then we head up to
Helsingør! That is a super cool, old city! We got to see a bit of the centrum
as we walked around trying to find the library to teach Phillip in the future.
Then we helped Steffan set up a pavilion in their little yard. And then we ate
dinner with them! Steffan was in pretty good spirits, or at least would take
more with us (maybe because of the service), so it was a really fun
conversation!
Sunday was a
Fast Sunday. And I finally got to bear my testimony!! My previous plans have
all been foiled by translating instead, so I jumped at the opportunity this
week. Lone was at church, just like she usually is. (*fist pump*) And then
Inger surprised us by coming too!! She had to leave for work right after
Sacrament Meeting, but she met Helmi before leaving (which will be good because
Inger is coming to Helmi and Richardt's for dinner on Tuesday). After church,
some members had made us food to eat. So we took that home with us for dinner.
As we got home, we got a call from the Lyngby Sisters. They had a referral from
a member in Frederiksberg, who, long story short, wanted us to come to a
Fireside at Maglegårds Allé that evening to meet her friend who has
investigated the church before. So with a couple phone calls and permission,
that was arranged! And we got to go and listen to Joseph Brickey, who painted
the murals in the Copenhagen temple and the mural behind the Christus in Rome.
It was super cool and deep, including a ton of cool symbolism and lots of art
jargon! The main point was, at our full capacity in giving all we can and reaching
to God, Christ is able to embrace us and make our limits, unlimited. Super
cool! Sadly, did not meet Ryan (the member's friend), so we just talked with
the member a bit instead and then headed home late. Still got to hang out with
Helmi and Richardt that evening though! (Hygge night is the best!)
As far as
feeling God's hand, it was definitely the growing feeling of complete
submission to Heavenly Father. This past transfer, I've really felt that every
amount of energy or any thought towards helping these people is worth taking.
Any extra ounce I can muster, will be to their benefit. That can sound
distressing, but has instead been quite empowering. I've really felt like I've
personally made a difference in this ward and seen the fruits that have come
this far. It's exciting to be on the brink of change, knowing that it is what
God would have you do. I definitely feel I have become a trusted servant of
God.
I hope you
all have a wonderful week! Know that you can increase your personal fathom as
you reach beyond that which is worldly, towards that which is above. And there,
you will find the power and the embrace of Christ.
--
Ældste
Jepsen
- Some
classic comp pictures in KBH
- Ældste
Harding was quite excited about the Larp Store
(who isn't
excited by tons of harmless weapons!)
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