Week 4

 I learned SO MUCH THIS WEEK. This place really is designed for missionaries to improve their testimonies. I'm going to share a few experiences I had. First of all, Patriarchal blessings are the BEST. I was promised in mine that I would teach words of wisdom with the spirit WHEN I diligently studied and pondered the scriptures, and That's exactly what I'm learning how to do. Last (I think it was Friday) I opened my morning scripture study with a very specific question geared toward my investigator and I TOTALLY received revelation on what to teach and how to teach it. When I went in to talk to Marc I was able to open the Book of Mormon and say hey, I spent this morning studying and praying about what to teach you and here it is- and it went AMAZINGLY. He was so much more interested in what I had to say and I got to explain how we can receive Revelation through the scriptures and hopefully he will receive it when he prays about the Book of Mormon (I haven't seen him since). The day before that we got to teach a member from Sweden. She lived in Lynd in Southern Sweden and is studying at BYU, she also brought her friend from Sweden who has been a member for 7 weeks. 7 WEEKS. I was able to testify of principle I had learned through prayer and scripture study, as I was doing so, I looked up and realized that she was tearing up! Afterwards she told me that she felt the spirit so strongly and that she was glad I was taking my testimony to her country. Amazing, incredible experience. One more, later in the week we were teaching another Swedish elder from the other district. He has been having a really hard time with the language, and we weren't expecting much from the lesson to be honest. He was playing an investigator named Aaron, who wanted to come into the church but was addicted to drugs. We were able to bear testimony to him that through the atonement he could do it. Toward the end, I asked if there was anything we could do for him. (In Swedish it's Kan vi gör någonting för dig?) Not really expecting a coherent (or good) response, he blew my mind when he simply said, ''Be för mig'' Which means pray for me. The spirit whacked me over the head and I was reeling for a good 10 minutes after the lesson. ANYONE can be a great missionary because ANYONE can invite the spirit. We especially can do so though because we have been called and Set apart to teach the gospel to the Swedish people. I know that my calling is from God. We had an awesome devotional yesterday where Elder Clayton said that if Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet then you were not called of God to teach the people. I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Yesterday I sang 'O How lovely was the Morning' In the Choir which was incredible as well. When a thousand Missionaries called and ordained to share the message of the restoration sing that song you can feel the truth of it like you can feel hot or cold. It's that powerful. On a less serious note- everyone always makes jokes about me haha, this is 'Manchild Mason' by Elder Burton. I've also been writing a quote of the day, which are usually severe burns we make about each other. They include but are not limited to ''Have you ever considered NOT reproducing?"~ Elder Loertcher and "I spoke with the rest of the world and we agreed that you need to leave" ~Elder Lloyd. LOVE these guys, they're awesome. I wish you all the best! Church is true! 

Äldste Mason