And this is just a little sign a member's daughter made. Smart kid. I just had to take a pic to show you all. (hint: read the red letters)
Photo 2 - A picture's worth a thousand words. This is a photo of the lake. The blue speck is Jesper.
Photo 3 - Yes, they really do worship Hans Christian Andersen here. This is a cross walk sign in the city - they're all H.C. Andersen.
Photo 4 - We found a store that sells American candy while on splits with the Horsens Sisters. I think we all went a bit crazy ...
Week 26 Letter
"Miracles happen once in a while, when you beliiiieeeeeve!"
It's so true though. So last Sunday in church Malene told us that her step son (17 years old), Jesper (I can use the name here, because it'll be in Det Danske Banner anyway), had just moved in with them. Jesper had investigated the church back when he was living in Sønderborg with his mom and had had a baptismal date before, but been talked out of it. Malene was beyond excited. Apparently when he moved in he asked her to call him any time she was doing her scripture study so that he could read with her. Just a bit of background, Malene's nine year old daughter, Emalie, was just baptized a few months ago. Her daughter from her first marriage is a member, and her son has been investigating the church with us for a while. Well he was until he left to Latvia for the whole summer to visit his dad. He's starting up again though. Malene's current husband, Kurt, is not a member. He's hard-core traditionalist Danish. He even has an small gold hoop earring (the tradition behind that is that Denmark used to be almost entirely fishermen and sailors, who had a small gold hoop in their ear to pay the ferryman to the afterworld in case they ever were lost at sea (a tradition going back to the Vikings and adopted by pirates pretty universally)). They live on a big farm out in the countryside, horses and corn and all, so it's tough to get out there. They're such a great family though. Anyway, the other day the Elders in Sønderborg who were working with Jesper woke up to a text from him, saying, "I want to be baptized. I will repent and join the church. I know it's true. I don't care what the opposition is anymore. Can I be baptized this Saturday?" So everyone in Odense and Sønderborg has been in a huge craze trying to get it all ready. He agreed to postpone it to this coming Saturday though, so that his mom will be able to come to his baptism. Søster Johnson and I went out to their farm to meet Jesper and go over the baptismal interview questions with him, and he is amazing. Søster Johnson knew him before, and she didn't even recognize him when she saw him, he's changed so much. I'll let you all know how the baptism went next e-mail!
So the big news with St is that he agreed to be baptized - as soon as he actually finds a place of his own to live and gets a job. He feels like he needs to get his feet under him before he makes these committments with God. He understands what it means, and understands that it has to be something he's ready for. We've prayed about it and feel like that's right. So pray he finds it!
Ol is also doing well. He wants to just learn everything, so we're having a hard time finding out how interrested he really is. We're having a "DTR" next meeting though.
Gi has stopped responding to our calls and texts. Unfortunately, her parents were evidently able to persuade her to get out of it. However, she has a lot of good frienships with the youth in the ward. I don't think she'd drop that. That's how Da came back to the church after all, through the friends who loved her enough to support her for who she was, no matter her choices. I'm gaining a new appreciation for that. Like with Mi, a less active member we're working with now. She comes to Sacrament meeting because she knows it's important and is really striving to get to the temple. Her dad died last year though and she went through a rough time when she pulled away from the church. Now that she's trying to come back, it's like she's an outcast. She's in her 50's, unmarried, with only her mother and sister in Denmark. The rest of her friends and family are still in India. She manages to slip in and out of meetings without a single person acknowledging her existence. We can usually drag her to the second hour, but helping her be strong in Relief Society will only come through the other members. She tries to stay, and really has a testimony of it, but it's hard when she feels so alone. Søster Johnson and I have a new focus on the less active members in the ward, and we're really praying that the whole ward follows the example of the young adults and opens their hearts back up to them. Do you have any idea how much easier our lives would be as missionaries if everyone in the ward actually did their visiting and home teaching?!
Adventure of the Week: Danish Doctors Offices. Søster Johnson has had bad stomach aches for the last month or so, but lately they've been bad enough that we can't go out and work. Good news though - I finally got caught up on all the calling that didn't get done when she was training! She finally caved and went to the doctor. Okay, for all the terrible rumors I've heard about doctors in socialist countries, this doctor was fantastic. He was professional, educated, and efficient. It was still an adventure though. And I'm proud to report that her tummy is doing fine now. Okay, so this week was pretty tame if our biggest adventure was a trip to the doctor's office.
On Sunday for Stake Conference we headed up to Herning with the Jensens (actually President Andersen's sister and her family, who are one of my favorites in the ward here). The speaker was Elder Craig T Wright of the Quorum of the Seventy. His talk was absolutely amazing, advising all of us to have enough faith in Christ to let go of the things in our lives that are good, but might be taking up too much, in order to find the best things that matter most. Søster Johnson and I went up to say hello to him afterward and he took Søster Johnson hand in one of his hands, mine in the other, and held onto our hands as he told the story of how two sister missionaries converted his parents and promised that each of us had a unique calling to fulfill on our missions here to Denmark, and that the spirit of the Lord would bless us as we tried to fulfill it. It's times like this that I wish my life was a movie and someone followed me around to get that moment on film. You all should check out some of his talks. He's great.
Jeg elsker jer!
Hannah
Photo 1 - Søster Johnson, me, Kurt (Malene's Husband), and Jesper on a big rock in a corn field next to their lake. I can't even describe how beautiful it was.
Photo 2 - A picture's worth a thousand words. This is a photo of the lake. The blue speck is Jesper.
Photo 3 - Yes, they really do worship Hans Christian Andersen here. This is a cross walk sign in the city - they're all H.C. Andersen.
Photo 4 - We found a store that sells American candy while on splits with the Horsens Sisters. I think we all went a bit crazy ...
Mom - Thanks for your sweet card! I love getting letters from you. They're always so uplifting and exactly what I need to hear. Thank you for the talk too. I remember reading it in the Liahona when it came out, and even sharing it with a less active member we were working with, and was just thinking the other day as I shared it with one of the mini missionaries that I ought to get a copy of it for myself. Lo and behold, you turn out to be psychotic. I mean psychic. Freudian slip. Oops. Or as they say in Danish, "Ups". Good luck with the new school year!
Katie - Mom told me you've been all dolled up for the new school year! That's so exciting! What classes are you taking? How'd things go with your youtube mission?
Dad - You read our minds too! Our next lesson with him will be about the priesthood. He remembers receiving a blessing back when he first investigated the church again and remembered the peace and support he felt "like a wave". He was thrilled when we suggested it. Definitely on the agenda asap, but it will be from a member he remembers from round 1, who can't meet until next week. Going strong though. What you said about challenges is true. It reminds me of a quote I heard in a talk just recently. "Satan doesn't kick no dead dogs." WHAT?! I didn't even know The Hobbit was going to be in two parts, and now it's a trilogy?! That's going to be so cool.
Cheryl - Good luck with all the renovations. I'm sure it will be beautiful though! I made your potato soup last night. Well, I tried to approximate it. It was okay, but not like yours. Would you send me the recipe?
Supreme Mugwump - I found out that my assistant ward mission leader and his wife are fans of One Piece! He's a recent RM and she's from Bolivia, raised in Spain, and they're both absolutely awesome! I wish you were here to meet them! By the way, in the photo on the rock I'm wearing the blue shirt you sent me. I love it!
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