More NEW Arrivals and Send Offs

Well, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, we went to the Stockholm Arlanda airport in the morning to pick up our newest group from the Provo MTC.  This is a great group of 6 Elders and 2 Sisters, and 1 great senior couple.  We are so excited to have them join us in the work here in Sweden.  Pictured left to right are:  President Beckstrand, Elder Sahlin, Elder Noso, Sister Beckstrand, Elder Lambson, Elder Brown, Elder Castleton-Rudolph, Elder Johanson, Elder White, Elder Hainsworth, Elder Reed, Sister Mecham, Sister Nielsen, Elder Perkins, Elder Taggart, Sister Wood, Elder Wood, Eelder Tolley, Sister Tolley, Sister Taylor, and Elder Taylor.

 Outside the arrival terminal, it is time to load up the luggage and head for Stockholm.

We took the new group to our favorite picture place, Stockholm's Stadhus, where the Nobel Peace Prize banquet is held each year.  Pictured from left to right are:  Elder and Sister Wood, Elder Taggart, Elder Sahlin, Elder Lambson, Elder Hainsworth, Elder White, Elder Noso, Elder Castleton-Rudolph, Elder Perkins, Elder Reed, Sister Mecham, Elder Johanson, Sister Nielsen, Sister and President Beckstrand.

 And another stop overlooking Stockholm.

 Our new couple who will head up the Stockholm YSA Center, Elder Owen Wood and Sister Janet Wood, along with Sister and President Beckstrand.

President and Sister Beckstrand with their three assistants.  Elder Sahlin is just joining us in the office, he is from Sweden, Elder Noso, who is from Finland, and Elder Lambson, who will be transferring to Utah as he completes his mission.  We will miss him and he has been an excellent leader for us and the mission.

 Elder Lambson, a big "Thank You" to you from all of us in Sweden.  You have changed this country for the better.

 This picture is taken in front of the church's first office building in Stockholm.  The church no longer owns this building but the Swedish government has preserved it as an historical building.  The Deseret Beehive adorns the building with the church's name in the scroll.  Pictured left to right are:  Elder Taggart, Elder Noso, President Beckstrand, Elder Sahlin, Elder White, Sister Beckstrand, Elder Perkins, Elder Lambson, Elder Johanson, Sister Nielsen, Elder Castleton-Rudolph, Elder Reed, Sister Mecham, Elder Hainsworth, Elder and Sister Wood.

Easter Morning

Wishing all of you a beautiful Easter Sunday today. Jesus Christ died for us all and rose from the dead to live again. We love him dearly and are forever in his debt.

Baptisms

Baptismal service for Paulina in Karlskrona, March 13, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister Brink, Elder Purkey, Paulina, and Sister Allred.

Baptismal service for Elaheh in Eskilstuna, March 18, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister Mojgan Sabounchi, Elder Trotter, Elder Hart, Elaheh, and Elder Albertsen.

  
Baptismal service for Jhanneth in Gubbäangen, March 21, 2015.  Pictured left to right are:  Sister Hong, Elder Held, Jhanneth, Sister Nielsen, and Sister Allen.

Sacred Ground

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, we gathered the members of our Mission Leadership Council at the Stockholm Temple to do a special temple session with them.  It was a beautiful day and the Lord blessed us with an abundance of sunshine to help brighten our souls.  After the session, we invited Ronny Werjefelt, member of the Täby Ward, to come and tell us about the temple grounds and relate some stories of when President Hinckley and President Monson came to the site and dedicated the temple in 1985.

 Here Brother Werjefelt explains about the temple site and the ancient burial grounds that were uncovered during the excavation of the site.

 The site was an ancient burial ground dating back to 500 BC - 500 AD.

 Outside the temple fence is a small marker which describes the temple site and the burial ground.



Brother Werjefelt points out several areas for the group to take note of.  The ancient Vikings buried many personal effects with their dead.  Several items were unearthed during the excavation, including an ancient sickle, used for harvesting wheat.  It is rather interesting that we talk of the Second Harvest here in Sweden, and here on the temple site, a sickle was found.  Let the Second Harvest begin!

 This old road which is just outside the temple fence is over 1000 years old, and leads to more Viking burial grounds in the woods only 10 minutes walk from the temple.

So, after the temple session and the time with Brother Werjefelt, we each took a nice sack lunch and walked toward the Viking burial grounds.

 This is such a serene place, quiet and peacful.  As you look out into the woods, you can see the old stone markings of where the Vikings were laid to rest.

 Everywhere you look, there stands more markers of the ancients.

Sister Beckstrand with Elder Beck, Elder Krebs, and Elder Taggart.

 Well, with our sack lunches gone, it was time for a few pictures of the Mission Leadership Council on top of some of the old stones.  This is a great group of missionaries and we are so fortunate to be able to serve with these great young leaders here in Sweden.

 Sister Beckstrand and President Beckstrand after a wonderful day in the temple and in the forest with our great Mission Leadership Council.  We are truly blessed and we thank all you wonderful parents for allowing your sons and daughters to be with us here in this beautiful land of Sweden.

 One final "group selfie" of some of the missionaries in our Mission Leadership Council.

 

Members of the CCM for Sweden.  March 1, 2015.  President Beckstrand, President Hagman, Stockholm Stake, President Clark, Malmö Stake, Elder Olsson, Area Seventy, President Karlsson, Stockholm South Stake, and President Strömbom, Göteborg Stake.
  

This picture is of the missionaries serving in the Malmö Stake.  They are enjoying a wonderful lunch after the Sunday session of the Malmö Stake Conference, held on Sunday, March 15, 2015.

Spreading the Word

Baptismal service for Daniel in Borås, March 7, 2015.  Daniel has been waiting a long time to get baptized.  He turned 18 years of age this week and then was able to be baptized on his accord.  Pictured from left to right are Elder Archibald, Daniel, Elder Roosendaal, and Elder Carrigan.

Baptismal service for Jerry in Karlstad, March 8, 2015.  Pictured from left to right;  Elder Dahle, Jerry, and Elder Scott.

MLC/MLT and Touring of the Mission

More pictures from the MLC/MLT training meeting in Gubbängen.

Enjoying some homemade pizza at the mission home with Elder Bodine, as he gets ready to leave us tomorrow for home.  Pictured are Elder Dickson, Elder Noso, Elder Brown, Elder Lambson, Elder Bodine, Elder Taggert, and Elder Hemmingsen.  February 24, 2015.

 Elder and Sister Coombs in the mission home on their final night in Sweden.  They take off in the morning for London to visit their son and his family, before returning to Utah.  We will miss this great couple and the wonderful service they have provided in the Stockholm YSA.  February 25, 2015.

 Friday, February 27, 2015, we went out with the Tolleys to celebrate Sister Tolley's birthday.  Here are Elder and Sister Tolley at the White Horse Cafe, after a nice meal.  Happy Birthday Sister Tolley!

Well, this week of March 2 - 4, 2015, we had our 2015 Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Goerge Donaldson, Area Seventy from England.  They came to help instruct our missionaries on Chapter 4 of PMG. The Holy Ghost and receiving revelation.  We had a wonderful time with Elder and Sister Donaldson and loved being taught by them.  Our Assistants, Elder Lambson and Elder Noso also taught at both conferences and did a marvelous job.  And of course, Sister Beckstrand and President Beckstrand also taught the missionaries on how the Holy Ghost should be our Personal Hero.  Pictured below are Elder Donaldson, Sister Donaldson, Sister Beckstrand and President Beckstrand at the Gubbängen Chapel, March 3, 2015.

 On March 3, 2015, we met in Gubbängen with the Norrland Zone, Stockholm Zone, Stockholm South Zone, and the Södertälje Zone for this special Mission Tour Conference.

 Lunch time was great, so pick out your favorite missionary.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015, we were in Göteborg at the Utby Chapel for the second conference of our Mission Tour with the Donaldsons.  Here we met with the Göteborg Zone and the Malmö Zone for the last day of instruction.

Once again, a great lunch was served to our missionaries, so go ahead and pick out your favorite missionary.