Being a missionary is difficult at times, one moment you are trying to teach a person that God exists, then the next you are trying to teach someone that Joseph Smith was a prophet, then the next second you are teaching an another person that there is a life after death. So many times will we hear things like "I believe that there is a life after this one but I don't believe in God" or " I believe in a higher power but I don't believe in God" or " I believe in the New Testament but not the Old Testament". Trust me, it is hard to try to fill in people's missing pieces. Because I have found that everyone has faith in at least one principle of the doctrine. Everyone has at least one remembrance of the plan we were taught before we came here. Anyway, I guess I'll get off my soup box now.
So we have been teaching this Jehovah Witness couple once a week for about 4 months now. Most the time it has been pretty good. The first visit we discussed Christ and showed each other our favorite Bible scripture on Christ. Then we started talking with them on doctrine and we had some disagreements. But most the time we have a fun time. Each time I go in to the lesson I tell my companion to keep things nice and avoid Bible bashing. Every time it's turned into a bible bash... The problem is that I am good at bible bashing. I guess though four years in seminary paid off. haha. The thing is, I don't like bible bashing, and at times they will question things like "Why do we need the Book of Mormon?" Or "Why do we need prophets today?" and we are able to answer all their questions with the Bible and we disprove some of their beliefs with the bible as well. I felt really bad when we showed a scripture that disproved one of their beliefs that I said "I am sorry, our mission is not to destroy other people’s beliefs, but to build up their faith in Jesus Christ." they then just went on bible bashing. I then realized that it wasn't us who was bible bashing, but it was them! We were merely defending our beliefs. Anyway... What I learned is that Bible Bashing doesn't get anywhere. Faith is not built through the bible verses or what prophets say, but it comes from what we allow the spirit to put into our hearts. I also learned that all of our doctrine can be found in the Bible and other churches ain't got nothin' on us!
Anyway, other cool things going on. One the investigators I found and taught in Sundsvall now has a Baptismal date! That's pretty cool... One of the less active family we have been working with came to Church yesterday! They also would like to get sealed in the Temple. They are a super cute family. The Husband is a Swede and the Wife is from Peru. They have the cutest little 3-year-old boy. I think they went less active because she couldn't understand Swedish very well and the Church in bigger and more social in Peru so coming to Sweden was a bit of a shock. But they have been doing really good.
Well, I have been trying keeping busy. It's been a lot of work lately, so not a lot of Cool pictures today sorry. Hopefully you are all keeping busy. I have been reading the institute manual for the Book of Mormon in the morning. I love it. The Church is just the best!
Tack!
Swedish Word Of the Week:
Läraktiga - Teachable