Zone Conference Time

ZONE CONFERENCE TIME IN SWEDEN!!!!!!

Yes, it is once again time for Zone Conference throughout the land of Sweden.  Zone Conferences were held on September 1, 2, and 4, 2015, in Gubbängen, Västerhaninge, and Utby.  We were treated to a special guest at each conference, President Håkan Palm.  President Palm is the second councilor in the Sweden Stockholm Mission Presidency.  President Palm has been a part of church history here in Sweden for the past 45 years.  He related for our missionaries the history of the church here in Sweden and told of the first missionary to come to Sweden, John Forsgren.  It was wonderful to have President Palm with us and the missionaries loved hearing about church history here and how they are a part of that as they work to spread the gospel message.

 President Beckstrand and his assistants, Elder Rasmussen and Elder Sahlin, taught the making of "Preach My Gospel" and "How to become a Preach My Gospel Missionary."

 Elder Sahlin and Elder Rasmussen in action, teaching the essentials of applying the principles of Preach My Gospel.

 

Sister Beckstrand did a marvelous job teaching the missionaries that "Preach My Gospel" is for life.  You must take the principles and apply them throughout your life as you teach your future families.  We must become a "Preach My Gospel" people in order to withstand the temptations and snares of the evil one.  Raise your family up to become "Preach My Gospel" saints.

 Sister Beckstrand then told the story of "Lucifer and the Big Fish" to help us understand that we can never let down our guard and fall back into old habits.  We all learned to stay away from Satan's hook.

 Tuesday, September 1, 2015, Zone Conference was held at the Gubbängen Chapel for the Norrland and Stockholm Zones.  Here is the Norrland Zone.

Trying to get the Stockholm Zone to come to order..........

Okay, here is the Stockholm Zone.

More fun during lunch and picture time with Sister Beckstrand......

President Beckstrand and Elder Wood trying to take a "selfie"........

Lunch time at Gubbängen....... Pick out your missionary......
 

 

President Palm with a few Elders.....

Elder and Sister Koyle.  They do such a great job for us in our conferences.  Thank You!

No room left at the tables, so we go ahead and eat on the stage.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015, we traveled to Västerhaninge to meet with the Stockholm South and Södertälje Zones.  Here is the Stockholm South Zone.

Here is the Södertälje Zone.

 

And here, President Beckstrand says, enough with the pictures, let's eat!

Lunch time at Västerhaninge......Pick out your missionary........
  

Sister Bird, Sister Beckstrand, and Sister Wood after Zone Conference.

Elder and Sister Bird, who will be leaving Sweden and heading to the Czech Slovak Mission in October, to fill a need of Records Preservation Couple there.  Also in the picture, Sister and President Beckstrand, and Sister and Elder Wood.

Friday, September 4, 2015, we traveled to Utby Chapel, for Zone Conference with the Göteborg and Malmö Zones.  Here is the Göteborg Zone.
  

And here is the Malmö Zone.

Lunch time in Utby.........Pick out your missionary......

And, another round of Zone Conferences are in the books.  What a great time with all of our missionaries in this great big beautiful land called Sweden!

District Conference

Saturday, August 29, 2015, we flew to Umeå, in northern Sweden, for Umeå District Conference.  We were treated to a visit by an Area Authority, Elder Massimo De Feo, from Rome, Italy.  He presided over the District Conference and shared many inspired words with the members of the District.

Looking out over Umeå.

And a night picture with the moon rising over Umeå.

Our great missionaries serving in the Norrland Zone, were all with us at District Conference in Umeå.  We had a great time with them and even were able to eat pizza with them on Saturday evening after the session.  We love these missionaries.

One final "selfie" with Jonathon Wirtala and Elder Featherstone.

And, the fun continues with these great Elders and Sisters.

Little Adventures

Well, throughout our travels in Sweden, we see some pretty interesting things.  Driving back from Malmö last week, I came upon these special things along the interstate.  A huge mosse created with wood, beckoning to travelers to stop off, fuel up, and get some "godies" for the road.

And when I came upon this, I was thrilled.  The more I looked at it, the more I thought it was Sweden's version of the robot machines that were shooting at the Ewoks in Star Wars.
 

Can't you just imagine them coming through the forest looking for Ewoks?

Wednesday, August 26, 2015, we flew to Luleå in northern Sweden to be able to tour the new renovated Luleå Church building.  What a great blessing for the members of the Luleå branch.  A brand new chapel with classrooms to provide them more room and to accomodate future growth as people accept the gospel and come to Christ through baptism.

 

 Front entry to the church building.

Beautiful walkway with grass seed planted, waiting for the lawn to come in before the weather turns to winter.

Looking out of the front entry way to the building.

The beautiful, new chapel for the saints to hold sacrament meeting in.
 

Another view of the chapel in Luleå.

Baptisms

Baptism of Brandon and Stina in Malmö, at the Baltic Sea, on August 1, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Elder Downing, Brandon, Stina, and Elder Beck.

 

Re-baptism of Erik in Gävle, August 30, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister Bateman, Erik, Sister Adamson, and Ward member.

Baptism of Maryam Sojoudi in Västerhaninge, August 1, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Elder Scott, Pouyeh, Maryam, and Elder Burton.

Baptism of Dudas Vendel in Jönköping, August 1, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister DeMille, Sister Brink, Dudas, Elder Farnworth, and Elder Dickson.

Baptism of Lasse Björn in Södertälje, August 1, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:   Sister Bolton, Lasse, and Sister Kamauoha.

Additional picture of Lasse with Elder Hemmingsen, who baptized Lasse.

Baptism of John in Utby, August 8, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Kirk Cammans, Ward Mission Leader, John, Gyula Horvath, member, Prince, member, Elder Smith, and Elder Nilsson.

Baptism of Matilda Oldenmark in Lund, August 15, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister Beckstrom, Malena Nilsson, member friend, Matilda, and Sister Modersitzki.

Baptism of Christina in Kristianstad, August 29, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Elder Albertsen, Christina, and Elder George.

Baptism of Stella in Hägersten, August 29, 2015.   Pictured left to right are:   Elder Rhoades, Stella, and Elder Pfost.