Monday, July 6, 2015, we traveled with the assistants to Umeå for
specialized Zone Training with the Norrland Zone members. As you can
see, our assistants catch up on any moment of sleep that they can. They
work so hard to serve the missionaries here in Sweden. Here, Elder
Noso catches a few ZZZZZs on the plane to Umeå.
In the rental car in Umeå, Elder Rasmussen tries his best to catch flies, while Elder Noso and Elder Sahlin pull faces.
We had to stop in Ratan to check out the "Hedgehog Crossing" to see if we could see any of these massive beasts.
Watch out......we have a sighting of a real Hedgehog. They do truly exist. Don't pick them up, because they are full of lice.
Elders Noso, Sahlin, and Rasmussen at the Norrland Port, in Ratan, Sweden.
President and Sister Beckstrand enjoying a few moments at the Norrland Port in Ratan, Sweden.
After the activity, a BBQ lunch was enjoyed by the MLC members. Here we have all 8 Sister Trainer Leaders.
Outside on the deck enjoying lunch.
Get after those hamburgers and hot dogs! Notice the smiles, nothing makes an Elder happier than eating food, except baptizing!
The MLC members feasting on food, in preparation for feasting on the Words of Christ.
We stumbled onto two very old Russian soldiers on our visit. Sister Beckstrand and Elder Noso doing their very best impressions of Russian soldiers.
This is the hill where the Swedish Battery was positioned, cannons pointing towards the village of Ratan. It is here where the last battle was fought on Swedish Soil. It was called the Year War of 1808 - 1809, and was fought between a Swedish armada of 7,500 soldiers, called to defend Sweden against the Russian invasion. At the time, Europe was divided between the French Emporer Napolean and the Russian Tsar Alexander. Russia had pushed into Finland, which was Swedish teritory and started to push southward into Västerbotten. Swedish troops were defeated and forced to retreat. At the peace negotiations, Sweden gave up Finland to Russia. This last battle was fought on August 20, 1809.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, we conducted a very special Zone Training for the Norrland Zone on the Book of Mormon and how we can use it more intensely in our teaching and finding. We also held a very fun Family Home Evening activity in the afternoon session. Here, our Norrland Zone missionaries enjoy a great lunch.
Thursday, July 9, 2015, we were back from Norrland and found ourselves in Gubbängen with the members of the Stockholm Zone. We were honored to be with these great missionaries and provided the same specialized training and Family Home Evening. Lunch time is always a hit and this time is was Mexican food to entertain the appetites.
Our assistants, Elder Rasmussen, Elder Noso, and Elder Sahlin, singing the hymn, "Närmare Gud Till Dig" at the start of the MLC meeting. These Elders provided some great training to our MLC members on the Book of Mormon and it's importance in the missionary work here in Sweden. President and Sister Beckstrand provided training in how to help our church members here in Sweden use the Book of Mormon in their member missionary work, along with the importance of our personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. We are truly blessed to have such great leaders here in the Sweden Stockholm Mission.
