Letter dated 10Nov2014

Dearest family and friends! This weeks pictures are of the state building across the ocean from Old Town (gamla stan). This is where the Nobel Prize used to be handed out each year, before Norway stole this privilege. But still, the Nobel Prize dinner is held here every year. Then there is a picture of us and Karim with brand new ABBA hats -- sick! Then, all the missionaries were at dinner with Sister Stenkrona and Karim. Great food! And there's a picture of some music of ancient date. We found this in our apartment under the refrigerator. Just kidding, it was in the city's cave of records. Thursday was the first day of snow! We only got a few centimeters. That day we went to an island by the name of Djurholm, and helped a older couple hang up Christmas lights and plant onions. I suspect the onions will not survive the winter, but we will see whether or not our efforts were in vain. But the Christmas lights were fun, got us in to the Christmas spirit :D Well, next week I turn 20! I cannot believe how old I am! I am definitely feeling this aging in my body, which lacks the pep it once had. Haha, just kidding... kind of :) I remember that when I was a tyke, it was so much more natural to live in the moment. I really miss this tendency, to make the best of each minute (because when you're a kid, a minute takes SO LONG!), which makes it easy to forgive, to be happy, and to be active. So my goal is to be childlike despite my advancing age. Interestingly, I have learned that the word "Muslim" means "childlike," so Islam is largely based off of having these childlike tendencies. (There are many Muslims who live in Sweden, and I have been impressed by how good these people are.) It's also something King Benjamin talks about, when he said that the Spirit of God helps one so that he "putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." That is my focus this week :) I hope each of you has a terrific week! I love each of you. Love, -- Äldste Daniel Schindler