Sometimes Rainy Days Are Okay

Hello!!

We've had quite the appointment filled week which is not exactly that normal here in Hammerum.  We had a lesson on Tuesday with one of our progressing investigators, Søren.  We knew something was up the moment we walked in.  He wanted to get started without any chitchat, so we did.  It was a fine lesson, but at the end he said he needed to tell us something.  He wants to stop meeting with us.  He doesn't want to change.  For him, the most important thing is to have the church in his heart.  It doesn't matter what building he goes to each Sunday if he is worshiping the Lord.  However, he loves the Book of Mormon and wants to keep reading it! I firmly believe that he will get baptized.  It might not be 2 months or 2 years, but it will happen someday.  

Wednesday brought happier tidings.  Not necessarily anything amazing, but I've found ways to really enjoy missionary work.  We were knocking and knocking without finding anybody, but it was still way fun! We played some games to keep the spirits up and just had a good time.  

We went on splits this week! We got to go up to Aalborg and be with our wonderful STL's.  I love Aalborg.  It's a big city with interesting people and has lots to see and do.  We got to stop by a few of their investigators and recent converts which was way fun.  One of their investigators is a middle-aged guy WAY into jazz.  We had a nice discussion about all the greats and I told him he needed to go see La La Land.  Afterward I had to remind myself that I'm a missionary for Jesu Kristi Kirke, not La La Land.  

Also... WE HAVE ANOTHER BAPTISMAL DATE!! WOOT WOOT!! We had JUST gotten off our train from splits (funny story about that actually: We got kicked off our train, got on a bus that only played 80's music, got back onto another train and made it home 4 hours later.  It was a good time) and were zooming to make our appointment with one of our investigators.  We read 3 Nephi 11 together and talked about baptism.  He wants to bet baptized!! He said that God has answered his prayers and he is beginning to feel the Spirit.  It made my heart so happy.  

Our weekly fodbold games have dramatically changed over the course of the past few weeks.  What started out as a fun little sport with less than average players has now tuned into an international competition.  On Saturday we had 3 Americans, 1 Spaniard, and 4 excellently skilled Eritreans all fighting to the death for the soccer ball.  It was intense.  Our original Eritrean friends brought 2 more buddies with them that were incredible.  They simply wrecked everyone.  It was more entertaining than the World Cup.  It was intense, but it was still fun.  I guess soccer is the universal language.  

So many things have made my heart happy this week.  Some days were a little rough, but retaining in my remembrance the little things have made a big difference.  They brought me joy, much like Ammon received in the Book of Mormon. In Alma 27:17-18, Ammon has gone up to met Alma and his people.  Ammon gets so excited that he literally falls over. 

 ''17: Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.
18: Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.''

How great is that? Ammon was so happy to see Alma again that he couldn't physically handle it.  He was a humble seeker of happiness.  My invitation to you this week is to become a humble seeker of happiness.  You can interpret that as you will, but strive to find happiness in everyday and use that to fuel you through the less happy times. 

I love you all og håber at I kan få en fantastisk uge!! Husk at bede hver dag og læs Mormons Bog! 

Søster Esplin
raya.esplin@myldsmail.net








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