Since almost everyone on our
floor is going to Nordic Countries, we have developed some interesting
traditions. For instance, the Swedes have decided that the 25th of this
month will be Christmas, and the Nords have designated every single
Thursday Christmas Day. Last I heard, they were buying things like
chastity pamphlets and baking soda from the book store and gifting them
to each other, meanwhile any packages with food that arrive on Thursdays
are "Christmas Miracles".
Another one of these
traditions is called "True Ice". There are pictures on the floor of the
building with our classrooms of missionaries lining the walls. A few of
them present different baptisms that were performed in the winter where
there was apparently no font available. So instead, members had sawed
through the four foot ice (sort of like in ice fishing) to make a font
in the water which was probably only a degree away from being ice. So
in case this happens to us, we want to be prepared. That means every
morning that we shower, we use the coldest setting. I'll admit, I don't
do that every morning, but I have been doing it and it is COLD. 10 out
of 10 would not recommend.
We got new "investigators"
this week. Just to explain real quick, all the investigators we are
teaching are role playing, but they are using real stories of
investigators they actually taught. So my companion and I are teaching
"Brandon" who is a 21 year old native Swede and heard about the church
through watching South Park. So that should be fun! Another
companionship is teaching "Hanif". I'll put a picture with what his name
looks like in Farsi, but he is from Iran. We are also teaching someone
named Misha from Bangladesh. What I'm getting from this activity is that
we are going to be teaching a lot of different kinds of people from
many different backgrounds... and I am SO EXCITED.
Yesterday we were able to be hosts for arriving missionaries.
Essentially what that means is you carry their luggage and be the guy to
take a picture of their family before the Elder or Sister is ripped
from their parent's arms. Haha, no it's not like that I promise. I tried
to be really nice. We show them to their room and then take them to
their class all while trying to help them feel welcomed. It was really
fun! Except one Elder I hosted had three suitcases, and one of them was
definitely over fifty pounds. I could tell because it had a tag from his
airline which said "overweight". Also because my little arms were
STRUGGLING. There's no elevators in most of the buildings here so I'm
glad I made it :)
We also got to do this thing called
TRC. It's where we teach Swedish speaking volunteers who are not role
playing. Most of the time, they are members of the church, so it's like
two on one Sunday School or something. It was wonderful. We taught a
nice lady named Hannah who served in Sweden, and then we went to the
other room and taught her husband. They will be visiting Stockholm in
October which is when we get there so they said if we are in Stockholm
that they would take us to dinner :) We taught about be worthy of The
Holy Ghost and following His promptings to do good.
On
Tuesday Elder Patrick Kearon came to our devotional. He is in the presidency
of the seventy and he's British. I LOVED his talk. He talked about not
worrying, just working. He also shared that our service is never taken
for granted, even if it sometimes feels that way. That every tear and
every drop of sweat given in service to God is counted. That goes for
everyone. Not just missionaries. As Isaiah put it, He has graven us in
the palms of his hands. The scars He has are a reminder to us of the
love He has for each of us. He doesn't forget us, even if everyone else
does. That's the beautiful message of The Good Shepherd. He knows His
sheep and is aware of them through joy or pain.
I
appreciate every letter I get from everyone! Thank you. Often hearing
about something you might think is boring makes my week. Please send
pictures. I would love to hear from anyone that wants to send me an
email. Please know I read and love every email, even if I don't always
have time to respond.
I love you all!
Elder Denton
There are more pictures to come but they would not upload correctly. Will fix later on.
How to spell "Hanif" in Farsi.
One of our teachers: Brother Beck.
Missionary cockpit.
Missionaries I don't know studying. (Creeper pic.)
We got reassigned. Just kidding, it's a mural in the new buildings.
This Elder Slaughter. He and I are working on an arrangement of "How Great Thou Art".
Shout-out to the Bringhursts for my favorite pair of socks.
My district leader Elder Beckman praying.
Push-up contest on the residence halls.
Elder Ahonen doing his weekly vlog in Finnish.
Elder Hansen is always eating fruit.
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