Sunday, June 29, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Letter from Daniel to Grandma (13Jun2014)
Dear Dad, Grandma and Aunt Susan,
I got the package with the tribute to grandpa, C.D., the memories from grandchildren, the letter from grandma, the star and funeral program. It is nighttime now, and before going to bed I feel like I need to write to you. I am very grateful for how much we have been able to communicate, for your prayers and for your love. It means so much to me. I really want to write about everything that we have seen – many miracles. Sometimes it is extremely easy for me to not remember the tender mercies of the Lord, but I feel so uplifted as I recall them and I hope you are as well.
A week ago, last Friday, Aldste Dahle and I were invited to a party for Sweden’s national Day. We went to the first bit but had to leave quite early – too bad because there were several potential investigators there and a part-member family. But we had a lesson to teach. Even though the lesson and the bus times took forever, we felt like we should swing by the part to just double check. We did, and on the way form the bus to the part we met Tomas, who has begun investigating and is the deepest thinking and sincerest, truth seeking investigator I have perhaps ever taught. Thereafter, the part was still going! We set up a time to meet with the part member family as well as found that Esther is interested in meeting. It was a really cool prompting.
The next day started out blank, so we designated all of it to finding. It was the most incredible day! As the train pulled into Karlinge (Chevlingeh), a bench sitter saw us getting off and beckoned us over to talk. This was a great conversation. Then we knocked doors and a less active members’ neighbor was actually very interested to meet (we have taught her once and happened to pick a couple who knew her from a race they had run together). Then another neighbor was also interested at the door and then another neighbor saw us outside and beckoned us to come over as well! On our way back t the train we were beckoned over by yet someone else, Krisztina. Her neighbor is a fellow-Hungarian as well as a member! We have taught her once now and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have been in. While we were talking with Krisztina this first time we were interrupted by a middle-eastern lady whose daughter had been missing on a bike – a perfect opportunity to find someone (literally- speaking and Preach My gospel wise). The daughter was found. So Saturday was wonderful!
On Sunday we had a great Sunday and got to meet the neighboring ward’s bishop as he taught our investigator with us. He was just a great man and meeting him really made the day!
On Tuesday we got to tear apart a members’ deck, which is always good. And we had a meal with a great returned missionary and her husband who just left the church. They both commented on how we were the first missionaries to do the dishes since he was baptized, which was great to hear because we need a really good relationship with them.
On Wednesday, Aldste Dahle went to an area near Eskilstuna and Aldste Barnes came here. Aldste Barnes has been on a mission about the same time as I and is a terrific missionary. So far with I have had a really good lesson with Tomas as well as a great lesson with Krisztina.
Tonight as we were on our way from a member, talking about the family’s mission plan, we stopped our bikes at a really nice looking river to have a “dedicatory” prayer of our companionship and area. We went under the bridge for this for privacy and as we were getting back on to our bikes, a biker saw us and said, “Hey, Elders!” It was Morten, who is a counselor in the bishopric’s 17-year old brother who’s not a member! (He is Danish). We have an appointment to meet him at a YSA activity soon! I do not think he would have stopped us if we had been biking past him, but he did because we were stopped. IT was a fantastic, immediate answer to our prayer!
There are so many other things I wish I could tell you! But I know that the Lord is at the head and in every detail of this work.
I am so glad that grandpa had a dream about our family growing together. I cannot wait for it, and I always pray for it. I know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. He is so great!
I love each of you and pray for each of your health and strength.
I love being here. But it will be wonderful when I will see you again!
Love,
Daniel
Letter dated 23Jun2014
[Dear friends, here is the letter we received from Daniel last Monday! Let me know if you have any messages you would like me to send to Daniel.
Love, Daniel's editor - BWS]
Dear Family and Friends:
This week was a terrific one, featuring a merry Midsummer Eve, many a lesson, as well as a wonderful zone conference where we sadly said good-bye to Sister and President Newell. [Daniel's mission president and his wife are finishing their 3 year mission.]
On Monday we attended the weekly family home evening for the youth. We weeded a koloni (which is a garden among many gardens each owned by different people. We have kolonis here because no one has a yard, but everyone likes gardening!) and had good melon.
Tuesday was the Zone Conference. We learned about continually living the gospel with joy! Then we said good-bye to the Newells. I will miss them a lot. But I'm excited to meet the Beckstrands.
On Wednesday Äldste Barnes went to Malmö, a neighboring town, with a missionary there to teach a friend, so Äldste Keele from Malmö came here to be comps with me! He is a lot of fun, and a really good worker. We taught more lessons (7) than I've ever taught in a day, so that was quite cool! One was to Patrik, who is preparing for baptism. After him, we went with the senior couple, Äldste and Syster Davis, who are serving in Lund to Patrik's old parent in-laws. The four of them did family history together, and Äldste Keele and I went outside to play soccer with Patrik's kids and their friends. That was super fun, and they liked us a lot, so perhaps we will do the same thing every time we go there :)
On Thursday night we were playing soccer with the youth in the ward and Morten. It had just rained very hard, and so there was lots of sliding and slipping. We also met Hassan, from Saudi Arabia, when he came to play with us. It was his first day in Lund; he's here studying law. And he wants to come to the weekly sports activity on Thursday, so that was cool!
Friday was Midsummer's Eve, a big day here where everyone, including missionaries, take it off. We went to the Nilssons party, where there were our-aged people from all across Scandinavia. It was terrific! We made a may pole, danced around it, made and had really good food, and played yard games. Kubb is a Swedish yard game that combines chess and horse shoes. Very fun. I can't wait to show it to you!
It sounds like everyone back home is having a blast too! Andrew practicing his dramas, Theresia getting married!, and everyone visiting them, the twins doing a hike, Joseph feeding some high-ups, and everything else! Love you all!
Love,
Äldste Daniel Schindler
Letter dated 16Jun2014
[Here is the letter we received from Daniel earlier today. I hope you enjoy it! If you have a response for Daniel, simply reply to this note and I will forward your note to Daniel! Daniel's editor - BWS]
Dear Family and Friends:
It was a terrific-squared week! Lund is super pretty nowadays (it really has been all the time I've been here also...). We took some pictures that a pretty good to the eyes. There's a mini castle that used to be the King's resort, a purple train we were racing, a cool building, and the sun (at like 9:00 pm) :)
Elder Barnes came here on Wednesday and we are having a terrific time together! We have many investigators who are positive and we have been quite busy.
And last Saturday we went to Kävlinge, three different people had met with missionaries before and wanted to meet with us, and two people whose doors were knocked upon were also interested! That was super cool.
We have been able to see so many fruits from responding to the Spirit. It is terrific! We are super excited for this next week. Hopefully Carl will be baptized on Saturday. We are hoping and praying!
I love you all, and hope you each have a terrific week! Congratulations to Theresia on getting married, as well as to Summer and Brigitte!
Love,
--
Äldste Daniel Schindler
Letter dated 9Jun2014
[Dear family and friends, here is the short letter we received from Daniel today. It sounds like he is busy and happy!
Let me know if you have a message you would like me to share with Daniel!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Daniel's editor - BWS]
Dear family and friends:
This week was a good one!! Friday was Nationalsdagen, National Day in Sweden!! We had a party where participants in a Swedish class held in the young adults' center all got together, grilled, and played Brenbol, which is like baseball. It was really fun! An Indian student came with Indian lemonade, which was very good. It had cardimum in it. There was also a really great carrot cake from a German student!
The best part of the week was when we went to find new investigators on Saturday! It was very successful as well as funny. I will tell you more about it next week.
I don't have too much time, but Äldste Dahle is leaving on Wednesday. He has been a super companion. I know Äldste Barnes, who's coming here, and he's also terrific.
I will send you a more substantial letter next week!
Love you!
--
Äldste Daniel Schindler
Letter dated 2Jun2014
[Dear friends, here is Daniel's letter that we received this morning. I hope that you enjoy it! If you want to write to Daniel, simply reply to this note and I will forward your note along to Daniel. Enjoy June! Thank you for your love and support! Daniel's editor - BWS]
All!
I don't have much time, but we had a good week.
Some of the highlights were we got a package from the Dahle's, and on the way to pick it up, we were met by Yonass, who used to live in Provo and really liked it, so he wanted to become our friend! He bought us ice cream, and as we were eating and getting to know each other, the ward relief society president came to join us! It was great! He really misses America, and especially like Utah, so he was super glad to meet us. It was definitely a tender mercy. I don't know if this has anything to do with that, but we had a lesson earlier with someone we had just met named Mikeal. It didn't go so well, and because I was thinking about that, I kinda forgot his name when I said the closing prayer and so I referred to him as Jonas instead by accident. So I guess asking to bless Jonas (Yonass) really worked as we met Yonass a little bit later! Haha :)
We also were stopping by Anders and barely ran into his roommate, met him and got to also teach him about the atonement. That was really great. It seems like we often get blessed to be places at the exact right time.
The book is blue and the church is true! It was also great to hear from you all this week. Hope you have another good one!
Love,
--
Äldste Daniel Schindler
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