Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Szervusztok kedves barátaim és BOLDOG KARÁCSONYT :)






First of all, i need to say what an amazing experience it is to be a missionary on Christmas day. Christmas in Hungary is A M A Z I N G. it is 3 days long. The 24th is "Szent Este" and families decorate their trees together and the Baby Jesus brings the kids presents. On the 25th and 26th everyone has  work off and it is basically a wasteland out in the streets because everyone is with family for both of those days.

It has been kinda a crazy two weeks. I don't know if I already said this but I am still serving in the beautiful city of Vesprém. I am training the perfect Sister Jensen. She is from North Salt Lake, Went to Woodscross high school, and we actually have a picture of us racing each other in Hurdles in 8th grade. haha small world right? Well she is just perfect and we are having tons of fun together. Veszprém is a super hard city work wise, so we have just been trying our best to find some investigators, and teach this amazing gospel that we have been so blessed to have in our lives. 

So i have been studying this talk called "the fourth missionary" which has completely changed my mission haha. I have to share with you guys this part from it that i feel like so perfectly depicts how we should act in not just our missions, but our lives back at home

"Just give it up. Surrender your will to Him. Unconditionally. Withhold nothing. Turn it all over to Him; all of your desires, wishes, dreams and hopes. Be true and faithful in your head and in your heart, not just in your behavior. Trust in Him. Trust Him who knows all things. Trust Him who has all power. Trust Him whose love for you is perfect. Trust Him, who alone suffered, paid and atoned for your sins, and for your weaknesses as well. Trust Him that He will make of you, immeasurably more, than what you will ever, ever, in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create of you only a smudge. You will create an ordinary man. He will create a God."

you guys, just give it up. It is honestly that simple. Give up your will to the lord. That is the difference between those that are doing good, but not happy in their lives, and those that are doing good, and are happy. They have just completely given up their wills to God. I KNOW that that is not exactly easy, quite frankly it is terrifying. but that is how i have found happiness out here on a mission. It is how I (hope) am changing, its how we CAN change, and how we can become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, every single day. which ultimately, isnt that our goal? 

Persze élet sem kőnyű, de istennel, Kónyúbb lesz 






Sok szeretettel, 
Swenson Nővér 

On Tue, Dec 27, 2016 at 2:47 PM, Lindsi Elizabeth Swenson <lindsi.swenson@myldsmail.net> wrote:

1.  How's was your Christmas dinner at your Branch President's house?Oh just incredible! they are amazing people. So so nice, so generous, and his wife makes the yummiest food i have eaten in hungary!! AlsoI got to skype with my adorable family so that was kind of okay ;) 


2.  When is your next time in Budapest?
It is on January ! for New missionary Training

3.  Did you do anything for Pday today?
shoppppinnng for warm clothes. Hungary is sooo cold holy cow. 

4.  What is the next Hungarian Holiday?
honestly.. i dont know haha 

5.  Are you writing down the hungarian Christmas traditions that you want to keep with your kiddos?
well of course!!

6.  You need to think about a Birthday list now.  :)
haha how long do i have to thiink?!

7.  You said holidays were kind of two days in Hungary....what did they do on the second day of Christmas?
above in the email i think i answered that guy

8.  Do you have any dinner appointments with the branch this week?
No one in the branch, but we do with a memeber family and my amazing Investigator Ildiko!!!

9.  Do you have to be in early for New Years eve?
yeah we have to be in at 9!

10.  Did you know that you somehow managed to be even more beautiful when we saw you on Christmas than you were when we saw you on Mother's day?
Haha i adore you. thank you for sending me that incredible dress!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

A hét tele van csodákkal!!



Kedd: We had a lesson with Aniko our bap date, and Teri her mother (shes a less active) We have been fasting and praying ENDLESSLY about this bap date because its kinda a weird little situation we are in, and we also asked the branch president to come with us to our lesson and to be a member present, and to help us try to figure out what to do with the situation. Our branch President was amazing, and Aniko is progressing so much. We made her this little "keresztelés" (baptism) calander with little things she can do every day to prepare for her baptism. When she came in she was so excited to tell us about all of the things she read in the BOM and all of the stories. Something that I thought was so cool, was that she said that she used to not be able to understand anything in the Book of Mormon, and it made her really frustrated, and she didn't like reading, but now she understands EVERYTHING and loves it. guyyyyyss people can change! it's incredible to watch her go through this change. I just feel way too blessed holy cow. 

Szerda:  Sister Evans and I planned to go visit this inactive member named Magdi Néni in this little falu called Hajmáskér. We had this picture with a letter on the back to give to her from one of the Elders that served in Veszprém. When we first got there, we went to ring her csengő, and no one was home, we were so bummed cause it's kinda a huge trip to go to Hajmáskér, but we decided to tract around in the little családi houses. On our way back to Veszprém, Sister Evans had this feeling like we should go check if she is home again. We csengőd her, and this time she answered, but was just SO rude to us. haha like so unbelievably rude. We had to literally beg to get in to just give her this gift that Heaps Elder gave us to give her! She finally agreed and let us in, and then EVERYTHING changed. When we got to the door she was just the nicest, cutest lady i have ever met.
We talked about God's love, and how the church is like a hospital, we are all sick, and we all need the church. No one is perfect. Not one member!! At the end of the lesson she fed us a meal, gave us milka bars, christmas candy, and literally took her christmas decorations off of her wall to give to us, and apologized profusely for being so wicked at first. The gospel softens peoples hearts, i will tell you that!!

Csütörtök: we had district meeting in Székesfehérvár, and I left my phone on a buss!!!!! ahhh typical Lindsi. but then literally got it back by a miracle.

Péntek: INTERVIEWS with President. I absolutely adore my mission president. interviews are the best. I had the opportunity to talk to him about the "perfectionist" thing I have really been studying a lot lately. his answer to me was "why?" why do i feel like i need to be perfect? Guys i didn't have an answer for him. WE do not have to be perfect. that was never in the plan. We simply just need to try. 

Vasárnap: Aniko came to church for Fast Sunday. The fast and testimony meeting was incredible. towards the end i had this really strong feeling to turn to aniko and tell her if she wanted to bear her testimony that she could. . She didn't know that she could bear her testimony if she wasn't a member! so i asked her and she said:

"but i dont have a testimony like these guys" and
 I said, 
"yes you do!! a testimony is just what you believe in, what makes you happy, things that you have learned" 
she looked right back at me and said "thats a testimony? okay then i want to tell them"

then she went and bore the sweetest testimony i have ever heard. PEOPLE CAN CHANGE YOU GUYS. I am watching it happen right in front of my eyes. 


I love being a missionary, I love this work, I love the Christmas season, I love you guys!!!! have the best week. dont forget to #LIGHTtheWORLD




Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#LIGHTtheWORLD

#LIGHTtheWORLD

I dont know if you know much about the Church's Christmas initiative this year, but it is called #LIGHTtheWORLD. If you havent watched this yet, PLEASE do. here is the link: https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world?play=hero





What an amazing week to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.



So first of all. Thanksgiving is over and it is CHRISTMAS time. and Hungary does not mess around.

 

The streets here are lined with these adorable little log house looking things with people selling hot chocolate, kürtös kalács, scarves, christmas gifts, and I am kinda obsessed with walking through the belváros.



I had the most traditional thanksgiving of ordering pizza and gyros to a branch house in Veszprém Hungary for a district meeting, nothing too different from what i would usually do at home. 


I have exciting news!!! Okay so Sister Evans and I have had this feeling all transfer like we need to meet with this less active member named Izsó Teri, and she has a daughter named Aniko that sometimes sits in on our lessons (side note there is also this man who lives with her named Attila, and anytime we meet with her and he is there Evans and I just die because that means he is going to cook us some sketchy meal. yayyyyyy. also last time we asked him to get in a picture with us and he said "do you know what the indians think about getting a picture taken? it steals your soul, so no i will not be in your picture") anyway, last time we met with Aniko in the middle of the lesson just said "i would like to be baptized" hahah whaaaaaat this stuff doesnt happen in real life does it?! we are so so excited about it.  



For a little bit i want to talk about JOY. I read Russel M. Nelsons talk about Joy this week and i just cannot even tell you how much that stuck out to me.
"My dear brothers and sisters, The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of our lives" what are we focused on? If i am here on my mission and all i think about is my family, and how hard this investigator is, or what I could be doing at home, where is my joy? I can tell you guys that if we put forth the effort in our lives to look towards christ, and really find the pure JOY that this gospel can offer us, we really really will be happier. i can tell you guys this, because i have experienced it. The atonement of Christ is so real. I used to get so caught up in trying to live my life 100 percent perfect, and then just hating myself when I fell short, but that is the opposite of Christs atonement. We enter a partnership with christ. He is PERFECT. so we do not have to be. We can make mistakes, but what we cant do is live in those mistakes. We need to pick ourselves up, and really actually try to be better everyday, and through Christs Atonement, guess what? we can ALL make it to the celestial kingdom. every single one of us. every single one!


Sok szeretettel, 
Swenson Nővér



Monday, November 14, 2016

Like my good friend Jon Bon Jovi once said, "Wah, were halfway there". howwwwww have I been on a mission for 9 months?






Well we just had an amazing week this week, In just this short time we were able to find 4 new investigators!! I absolutely contribute this to Our Heavenly father, and us trying our very hardest to follow the spirit in our work. on a little side note though, i might, just miiiiight have taught someone in an insane asylum. just maybe. still not sure. but hey, everyone deserves the gospel right? 



Every time we go tracting, we pray and we ask our Heavenly Father to guide us to where we need to go, and to help us say what we need to say, and to speak this crazy langauge haah. We had planned to go to this one 10 storey to tract, and on the way there, I  had this really weird feeling, and I just felt like we should turn, and tract in this specific building. I asked Sister Evans if she agreed, and she did. We tracted this building, and we found this incredible lady named Marta Néni. We were able to have an amazing discussion with her about Christ, and a little bit about the plan of salvation. It was honestly adorable. She brought out her journal and read us this letter she wrote to her children telling them all about Christ, and all about how he suffered for our sins, and how we should always remember him, and thank him for that. We were also able to give her a Book of Mormon, and schedule to meet with her again.

After that Sister evans and I continued our tracting, and a couple of floors down we knocked on this ladys door. At first she looked like she was going to yell at us, but then she just started bawling and  said "Isten Küldte titeket hozzám" which means, "God send you two to me" it was amazing to testify to her that God literally did send us to her, like literally. he stopped me dead in my tracts and gave me the impression to tract in her specific building. It was an amazing testimony strengthener for me, and for Sister Evans. Immediately after that door we said a prayer to our Heavenly Father thanking him for allowing us to have that experience. This work brings me so much joy. I am so happy to be a missionary. 



1.  Pday activity?
CASTLES



2.  Do you do much contacting on the trains?
uhm, not really!! we should though!

3.  Did you get your Thanksgiving package from the Ward?
yes it made my whole entire life. seriously thank you so much!

4.  When you write in your journal do you use different colored pens?
actually haha funny question, i was literally thinking about this yesterday. the journal i'm writing in right now I only use black 7 point pilot pens (probably because i have OCD) but in my other one i did. 

5.  Did you have a meal at any member's home this week?  What did they make?
yes, she made us gúlás(basically just like soup) , and palacsintas.(basically crepes) seriously so good. 

6.  What do you usually make yourself for breakfast, Lunch?
breakfast, I usually take plain greek joghurt, put some honey in it, cut up an apple and a banana and put oats in it. im kinda obsessed with it right now. 

7.  Are the elders in the same town as you?  How do you divide it up?
yes they are! we basically just split the city in half

8.  Do Hungarians pay any attention to the American election?
... yes hahahaha 

9.  Have you heard how good the Utes are doing at football this year?  Pretty exciting!!
yes spencer gives me updates everyweek (SHOUTOUT SPENCER WHADDUP)

10.  Did you know that your mommy thinks about you a million times a day?  LOVE YOU SO MUCH....So, so much!!!
Do you know i probably think about you guys a million and two times? love you more!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

I purchased a Giraffe onsie





Things that happened: 
- we commandered a taxi this week
- we missed our train back to hungary and had to sleepover in budapest
- I GOT TO SEE GIRAFFES 
- i let a hungarian cut my hair.
- I purchased a Giraffe Onsie




WHERE DOES TIME GO? This week we had spliiiits in the lovely city of Budapest. It is always unreal to go to that city and just see this amazing country more. haha like really I have been on a mission for 9 months now, and it still doesn't get old. I got to split with Sister Lebaron who is my companions trainer right now. also we got to go with Sister Withers again and I only kind of adore her. 


I have been trying so hard to study, and to figure out the difference between allowing ourselves to be unperfect, but still pushing ourselves to be the best that we can be. The other day in my studies I was studying in 2 nephi 4 and it talks a lot about Nephi not yielding to the natural man, and not slacking his strength, and it kinda really explains that a lot. My mission is between me, and God.
My progression, my mistakes, who i am becoming, who i want to become, is between me and God. Some days i can be perfect Sister Swenson, and I can give 100 percent and I am happy with that at the end of the day. But somedays, I am Lindsi and my 100 percent that day is maybe a 75 percent on a perfect Lindsi scale. but thats okay. as long as everyday i am trying, and learning, and growing. This is not me making excuses for myself, I am fully aware of the fact that I am not perfect. Very aware of that, but I have also realized more the point of the atonement, and how to use it more effectively every single day. Jesus Christ doesn't expect me to be perfect, he doesn't expect me to not make mistakes, but he does expect me to realize my endless need for him, and his atonement. I have said this before, and I will say it again right now. I can not do this without him. I need his help. Only with my Savior can my mission be possible I love him. I am so thankful for his atoning sacrifice so that I dont have to be perfect, cause i can assure you, I would have failed. what an incredible, unfathomable person Jesus Christ was, and is. What a sacrifice. I am so grateful, and so humbled.  





2.  What is the dominant religion in Hungary?
probably katolikus, but maybe evangelikus? there are TONS of jehovas witnesses, and this weiiiiird sketchy religion called the hit gyülekezet 

3.  Do you go to three hours of church on Sunday, like here?
yes this branch is super rendes 
4.  How are your dresses/skirts holding out?
pretty good!
6.  Did you get your package from "The ward"?
haha uhm not yet!! 

7.  Is college free for Hungarians?
i dont think so! 

8.  How far would you say you walk every day?
i am actually not sure!! definitely a couple of miles!

9.  Are most of your contacts friendly to you?
uhm... sometimes hahahah 

10.  When I think of you, I just smile....Several times a day!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!