6 months---Burn the Tie Tradition

Tjena! Hur är det med er! 

I hope everyone's enjoying the Christmas season, it's a solid time to be out on a mission too :)

Here's a few highlights from the week:

I went on splits (one company splits up with a different missionary companionship) with Äldste Beveridge on Thursday so I was in Örebro for that (a city about an hour away by train). We taught some lessons, contacted people and handed out a bunch of cards for the #lighttheworld thing. Snagged some quick Burger King (it's just as mediocre in Sweden ha ha). It was awesome being with someone who is good at the language, he taught me a bunch of Swedish. That night, we went out to a firepit with a lighter, an aerosol can and an old janky tie,  that I found in my apartment, to burn it for my 6 month mark! (It's a tradition missionaries have at 6 months) I chose the wrong tie because that thing didn't burn at all ha ha oh well. Så är det. 

We went caroling last night with the sister missionaries and started off at an older lady's house named S. We started Joy to the World way off key, but she was crying by the end so I guess the Spirit changed the pitch before it hit her ears. She hobbled to each of her neighbors after and had us sing for them too. Moral of the story, take an old lady with you when caroling or knocking doors and people will listen. 

We taught this man this week who comes from Austria. He lived in Norway for a few months so can speak both German, Norwegian and  decent English. His name's B, and he reminds me of a mix between (not sure if everyone knows these two people) but my buddy Kyle Evers and my Uncle Josh ha ha super go with the flow kind of guy, really outdoorsy , asks deep questions to understand what we teach, he's a cool guy. We met him in this park called Djäkneberget Park which overlooks Västerås, so we taught him there at sunset (so 2pm ha ha). Great lesson, felt good to teach outdoors, cool experience for sure.

That leads me to my spiritual thought for the week which was inspired by the lesson with Bernhard and how pretty a Swedish forest dusted with snow is. In Alma 30:12, it says *All tings denote there is a God; yea, even the earth and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and it's motion* 

I personally don't believe that the beauty of the Earth came about by some chance of evolution. Seeing a beautiful sunset, how nature works so intricately, and the feelings we can get when we're out in nature is a testament to me of God's power and that he exists. Take some time during the Christmas break and go for a walk outside, or even just look up cool nature pics/videos or something and enjoy a bit of what God has created for all of us. 

Happy Holidays to you all, and God Jul!! (Merry Christmas)

Äldste Gordon

6 month burning the tie tradition

polyester ties don't burn well

Burger King, just as bad in Sweden

Enjoying the Swedish countryside