Daniel with new Finnish friend!

Cathedral of the Saints

Old Cathedral built by a Finn

Smoking kills!

Bike envy!

Letter dated 22Sept2014

[Dear friends and family, here is the latest letter that we received from Daniel yesterday! I hope you enjoy it. If you have a response that you would like me to forward to Daniel, simply respond to this note. Daniel's editor - BWS] Hey Family and Friends!!! Here are the cool pictures from last week. You've got a cool clown bike (Äldste Barnes does not actually ride this. Just liked it ;) ), a statue of a giant Finn who is in the bottom of the Domkyrka (cathedral). His story is that, after being hired to build most of the church, he was unsatisfied with his salary. So he went into the crypt and started shaking one of the supporting pillars, to make the church crumble. But instead of destroying his handiwork he turned into stone. The cathedral is the huge, gray church. It is so cool! You've also got a picture of some cigarette advertisements. In Sweden each advertisement comes with a blatant precaution. Here it says "Rökning dödar," or "smoking kills." Not the most effective way to sell things, but it still works and there are many smokers. There's also a picture of "Allhelgonakyrkan," or the church of the saints. It is so beautiful! We had an excellent week. On Tuesday we met with Tomas and Lucio. We taught the gospel, and learned a little about overtone singing! That night we helped a member family, the Ahlströms. We were graced to see a hedgehog, which is now my favorite animal! They are super cool and aren't scared of humans. On Wednesday we had another fantastic lesson with Tomas at the church. We also met new friends, whom we first met on the bus, named Jessica and Sheldon. They are from Belgium and Canada! On Thursday we met Kevin. He is Kenyan. We contacted him on the street, and he loved to learn about the Book of Mormon, and even though I translated institute for him, he loved it! On Friday we were housing open church, and I saw a lady whom I was prompted to contact. That usually doesn't happen when I see someone while I'm in the church, but she was the wife of someone we met on the street a week ago, so now they're pretty curious and want to come to church. I'm so grateful for the Holy Ghost, who teaches us all things that we should do! On Friday I was with a really great missionary named Äldste Hemmingsen. He's from Sioux City, South Dakota. He got to Sweden a couple weeks ago, and it was so energizing to be with him! A couple times during that day, we had a lull because our plans fell through. But both times, we kept positive and were led by the Spirit so that the first person we talked to each time was prepared to be taught a full lesson! The second of them was Jure. He's the first Slovinian I've met. He was traveling, and is really cool! I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost! Every time I am humble and hear or bear a testimony of Heavenly Father and His Son, the Holy Ghost testifies that that doctrine is true, and that they love me. I am so grateful for this testimony! As well as all the other help the Holy Ghost gives us, like to find people who are prepared for the gospel. I love you! -- Äldste Daniel Schindler

Letter dated 15Sept2014

Dear Family and Friends: It is good to hear all your stories every week. It is brilliant how spread out we are across the earth, in Finland, Scotland, Sweden, Michigan, Idaho, Utah, etc. We had no idea about all this a couple years ago! I think my favorite stories are of the moose and bear by our new Idaho house. Unfortunately, I have not seen a bear yet. Usually the polar bears hunt the Swedish streets by night, which is past our curfew. This week I learned that Amrita, from Eskilstuna, wants to be baptized! It was so good to hear that. When Äldste Bybee and I knocked on her door, she said "No" 5 times, but the 6th time we asked, she said we could come back. There was just a feeling that we needed to keep pressing her. It is wonderful and strengthening to see how the Lord guides His children to the truth of the gospel. Another such experience was as we were in open church on Wednesday. We staffed open church for four hours, and after studying for two, doing family history for one and eating, we were pretty eager for it to be done. But a few minutes before we left a man came in wanting help with family history. He had to be in a meeting soon, but said he'd come back in an hour. It's not every week that someone actually comes in to the church, so we wanted to stay an extra hour. Well, he did not come, but as we were about to leave the second time, a second man, Sam, came inside the church! Sam introduced himself as someone open and who loves learning. We taught him the restoration of the gospel and he eagerly took a Book of Mormon. He also came to church yesterday! It is wonderful that the first man came so that we were there for Sam. Another cool thing this week was that Tomas told us that he is very interested in throat singing! That means that we are meeting with him soon with our throat-singing friend, Lucio with the dread locks. We hope when this happens, Tomas's tenacity to read the Book of Mormon will rub off on Lucio. We hope. There will be some pretty cool pictures of Sweden's wildlife as well as Swedish cathedrals next week. One thing I love about Sweden: we saw a "nature bridge today", which is a bridge covered with trees so animals can cross the freeway. I remember in an episode of "West Wing" such an idea was pretty comical. But here it's a reality! Cause everyone loves the hedgehogs and polar bears! Hope you have a great week! I think and pray for you all the time. Love, -- Äldste Daniel Schindler

Letter dated 8Sept2014

Dear Family and Friends: On a scale from one to ten, this week was a ten! Yesterday we were in Göteborg for a stake conference and missionary conference. Elder and Sister Halstrom and Elder and Sister Olsson from Sweden were there. It was really inspiring. On Wednesday we met our new friend, Jan Erik. He has a difficult dialect and a tendency to mumble. Luckily we had Alex, a member who's his neighbor, so there was no language barrier! Jan Erik is pretty cool. He has so many clocks! Probably 26 clocks. On Tuesday we knocked on Syster Sandgren's door, and she was baking with her granddaughter, Emma. We got really good food, and are good friends with Emma, and we started teaching the gospel to her too. Perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned this week was how important it is to feast on the scriptures. Sister Halstrom talked about how studying the scriptures should begin with a prayer. Just like we pray over food, we pray over our spiritual food. Scriptures give us wonderful answers and understanding. When she spoke, I was reminded of my past experiences in the scriptures! Some that I think of are Enoch beginning his ministry without self-confidence, only faith in the Lord, and then his ministry leading to the righteousness of his city; Jesus living His life always being tempted in the forty days he fasted but never giving way to temptation; and Joseph Smith finding solace in the Lord's peace when he sat shivering in Liberty Jail. The scriptures give us awesome examples and amazing strength! Here are some of the reasons why I love Sweden! Swedes are very polite! As well as very good at Swedish. It's fun to hear the many different accents. This takes me to a tale that happened on Friday. We met someone from Örebro, which is part of the "whining belt" of Sweden. When they talk, it sounds like they are whining, about to cry! We had contacted this lady on the street and asked her if she wanted to learn about our message. She said "Unfortunately my dog is ill, so I have absolutely no time that I can meet with you." This lame excuse sounded very funny in her whining accent. I love being able to invite Swedes to come unto Christ. I love the trains and buses, which will take you anywhere you need to go. And I love the members and other missionaries, who are always loving and great. Hope you have a great week! Love,

Letter from Mission President

Dear Brother & Sister Schindler We are writing to express our appreciation for your son, Äldste Daniel Schindler. Äldste Schindler has been assigned to serve as a District Leader in the Lund II area of the Sweden Stockholm Mission. He is a wonderful and well prepared missionary, and this added responsibility will be a blessing to him and to the mission. May the Lord bless you and yours. With respect and kind regards, James E. Beckstrand James E. Beckstrand, President SWEDEN STOCKHOLM MISSION

Letter dated 1Sept2014

Dear Family and Friends: We had a good week. Neither of us will be transferred! However the district is changing lots as Äldste Floyd is moving to Norland (north country) and the 8 Malmö missionaries will join our district. It will be nice to be in a bigger district--16 in total. This morning we were called by Leonard (ward mission leader) to do an emergency service project. We helped his neighbor, Lucio, move. He is in an overtone choir, which means he can sing in a really cool way. If you have not heard it, I would suggest hearing "overtone singing." Moving was fun, and we made a good friend. On Sunday our Portuguese friend came to church. We went to the Nilssons with him afterward, it was very fun! We have begun "train contacting!" That means we go on a train, and invite everyone on it to church! It is fun. On Wednesday we were asked to be pallbearers for the burial of a lady in the Malmö ward. It was very touching to do that. I am so thankful that we know that we all will be reunited with our families and can live with them for eternity. That means more than anything. I am glad the move went safely. Take care! Love, -- Äldste Daniel Schindler