The superior man blames himself while the inferior man blames others. - Don Shula

Godmorgen familie,

 

How are you guys doing?  We're up in Frederikshavn today for Pday with Elders Wright and Poulsen.  We're going to go see some old WWII bunkers and just chill.  Poulsen goes home in 6 weeks.  Its so weird.  He's been with me my whole mission, and I can't believe he's going home!  Anyway should be fun!

 

This week really wasn't good.  We didn't have a good start to the week which didn't help, but things started picking up towards the end of the week.  We actually were able to get one or two days where we got some work done, but nothing really big has come out of it.  We found two big college dorms by the university that we're going to start knocking tomorrow!  We also recieved a list of people that have asked for a Book of Mormon online in the last five years, so we've started visiting them.  On Friday night we had a Spring Concert where a member brought a friend that we had contacted on the street so we plan on having a dinner appointment with the family and her and hopefully we can start teaching her. 

 

Harms and I are doing really well.  He's a real fun guy to have around.  I don't have my camera today, but I'll be back on the computer tomorrow to send some pictures.  The work here is alot different than in Søborg.  In Søborg I got used to having a car to get everywhere, but here I am planning days assuming that I still have the car and we don't have enough time with travel and everything to get everywhere that I want to get to.  I'll get used to it though, because that's how it was the whole rest of my mission I just gotta get back in the swing of things. 

 

Hope you guys have a good week.  Love and miss ya'll tons!

 

MKH

William

God sometimes does his work with a gentle drizzle rather than a storm. - John Newton

Hej med jer!

 

How are you guys doing???  First week in Aalborg down and its been pretty good so far!  The city is definitely the coolest one I've seen in Denmark!  It's just an awesome mixture of modern and old Europe. It's really cool!  The area is okay.  Since we're opening up a "new" or second area in the city, we're basically not working with anything so we have to fill a new pool of investigators.  There is a big university here so there are a ton of college students that are a lot of potential!  We also have CUV (Center for Young Adults) center here.  Something that we can also use.  There's a senior couple, The Despain's, they're way awesome and a big help to us!  My companion is Elder Harms, he's from Las Vegas and has been in Denmark for 6 months.  He came with Elder Wright back in October.  He's been in Aalborg for 2 months already and I've really enjoyed being companions with him!  He's a good kid and way funny.  We're sharing an apartment (ugh again) with Elder Pierson and Elder Pitts (another greenie).

 

My first day, we got dropped by one of the only investigators that we had.  She said that she hated conference and that they were just a bunch of pessimists that didn't know what they were talking about.  That was kinda awkward and I didn't know how to respond other than just bear my testimony.  Didn't help.  

 

One thing that's taking a little bit of time adjusting to here in Jylland is that they speak very different than they do in Copenhagen.  The closest thing that I can compare it to is a southern accent versus a New York accent.  It's taking some adjusting. 

 

Transfers were a nightmare as usual.  We had ten people sleeping in our apartment the night before.  It was just totally hectic and we had to be in charge of the whole thing.  The other problem was that we didn't get everybody home until really late.  We had to drive from Central Copenhagen to Ballerup with everybody's luggage while everybody else took the train up.  Elder S. and his companion went to McDonalds at 11pm and told them to get off the train and go with them.  The problem was that one of them told President and President called them all and reprimanded them.  That will probably be the last time they do that. 

 

Yesterday, we had to take one of the half Danish missionaries to the army base in Aalborg.  He had been called up to the draft and had to get a physical and wait to see if he was going to be drafted.  Luckily, he didn't.

 

So yeah that was the exciting week.  Love and miss you tons! 

 

MKH

William

 

Aalborg, Denmark

 

So your children came to dinner

Hi all! (Sis. Bryde and her husband live in Soborg and fed William on his last night there.  She sent the email to all 4 sets of parents and I didn't edit that out.  Bro. & Sis. Bryde are in the picture on the home page. - SV)
 
So your children came to dinner at our house tonight. Actually, to be truthful they invited themselves. The last time they were here, Easter Sunday, (and that's when we took the bunny pictures below) we promised them that the next time they came we would cook them a real old  fashioned Danish meal. It seems that a lot of members invite them over and make a big thing of lasagna or spaghetti and think this is real special, and then of course the next family does that too. And so we found out that they really had not had that many real old Danish meals. As it turns out Elder Veach and both the sisters got their transfer calls and Friday we got the phone call from the sisters. "We are getting transferred, is there a time we can come by and say good bye?"  Translation: "When can we come and get that dinner you promised before we leave." Ha ha.. Super busy weekend with my own birthday and I work late all nights teaching, so the only time they could come was Tuesday night at 8:00 pm.  Long story short, we had to say good bye to all but one missionary in our ward... and Elder Jespersen said hello tonight. His companion, Elder Jones, had to go to ward council meeting.... we all thought that if we had the choice we would have picked dinner. So we felt sorry for him. Elder Jespersen is the new zone leader here in our ward... so Brother and Sister Jespersen you can be proud of him. It's a big honor here in Denmark where we only have 2 zones.

I am a fresh missionary mom myself.  My son Chris is serving in the Portugal Lisbon mission. He went into the MTC on December 13th and his first 6 weeks in the field he was trained by the assistants. Together those four missionaries (3 assistants and my greenie son) baptized 20 people his first transfer. He then got transferred two weeks ago to another area, and they had 0 investigators and he got a companion that only spoke Portuguese. Big change and a lot of hard work.

I always hope that someone in Portugal will give him some love and some food and a good experience... so my prayer to you all is to just pay it forward any you can. I take care of yours, someone will take care of mine, and you in turn take care of someone else over in the US.

My oldest son Michael lives in Provo with his wife. He served in the Chicago North mission 5 years ago, and Chris's girlfriend Lisa is living with us preparing to go on her mission to Leeds, England. She will be leaving on June 28th.  So my life is once again full of mission prep... shoes, and luggage only this time it's for a sister. New territory.

Your kids are good missionaries. The best. They work hard, and do everything they can to preach the gospel.  Sister Moore sang in Sacrament meeting last Sunday. She did a beautiful job. All three of the missionaries leaving got to bear their testimonies in Church. They did great.

The weather here has been somewhat crazy. We had a little snow like white stuff come out of the skies as late as this afternoon, but otherwise we do have all the signs of spring, and are looking forward to a great summer.

Hope this email finds you all well, and I know probably longing for your son or daughter. Trust me I know.

Let me know if there is anything I can do.

And my husband Henrik also wants you to know that he sends his greetings. He regularly tortures your kids. They seem to laugh at it.  He is famous for it. He says stuff like: Who invited you.. when they knock on the door... or tells the dog to attack.... and on and on. They always laugh so he does it some more.

But he says hi also.

Best Regards from the Danish kingdom.

Susanne Bryde
Proud missionary mom

If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven't done anything today! - Lou Holtz

Hej med jer! 

 

Hey so we found out transfers this week!!!!!  Guess who's moving????  THIS GUY!!!!  I'm moving to Aalborg!!!!!  That's right.  I'm getting my dream and getting sent to Jylland probably to finish my mission in Aalborg!!!!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.  I really have been wanting this my whole mission and its hard to believe that I'm going to get it!  Of course, its sad.  I've gotten to know this ward like no other ward on my mission.  There's alot of people that I'm going to miss, but it'll be good.

 

This was probably one of the most solid weeks we had in Søborg.  Our numbers were just good and we weren't running around just trying to find something to do.  We had a bunch of member referrals that we were able to work with.  They all became new investigators and we taught them with a member and one came to a ward activity.  So I was very happy with my last week. here.  Tonight we have an appointment with Louise and Joe so I'll be able to say goodbye to them.  Then we have the Brydes on Tuesday night!   So it's a nice strong finish to the area.  Elder Jones is excited to be getting Elder Jespersen, his MTC comp who's coming in my spot.  The sisters are also leaving.  Sis Olsson is staying in Copenhagen and Sis Moore is going out to Horsons in mid Jutland.  I'm going to be in the same district as Poulsen!  Again!  I swear that we've spent our whole mission together.  The only downside to this move is that I'm moving into an apartment of 4 again.  I was really looking forward to not have to do that again, but it's only for a little over a month so that's not too bad.  I'll be leaving on Wednesday. 

 

We went on splits this week with Amager and Roskilde.  It was a lot of fun.  I was with Tolman on Amager  and Elder Willden here in Søborg.  Elder Willden is one of my role models.  I swear he is the hardest worker in the world and he has gone through so much.  I don't know if you can remember, but his mom died in June last year, but that hasn't stopped him at all.  He works like there is no tomorrow.  His grandpa is dying right now, but again he's not letting that stop him at all.  He's just working working working.  Anyway, best splits of my mission with him on Friday. 

 

Hope you guys had a great week.  Love and miss you tons!  Have a great week!

 

MKH

William 

It's not who we are that holds us back, it's who we think we're not. - Michael Nolan

Hej med jer! 

 

How are you guys doing?  Things were good for the most part this week.  I'm really tired of all these meeting that I have to go to.  I hope that I can be just a normal missionary soon, because these meetings are giant blocks in the middle of ones week.  I'm looking forward to just having a normal week!  I'll find out this week if I leave now or have to wait until next transfer, but things are good otherwise.  We got in contact with a ton of our potentials, so hopefully we'll have a bunch of appointments this week!  The big meeting this past week was Zone Leader Council.  For these things we have to call every area in the zone.  Well, Elder Jones was a little new to the whole thing.  He only got 3 done before he had to go on splits.  I had to do the remaining 8 and it took 4 hours to get a hold of everybody!  I was so burnt out after that day that I just wanted to go back to bed!  I then talked to Sis. Moore and Sis. Olsson the next day.  They have a big problem with stalkers in Lyngby where they live.  Two cities in the area have a lot of mentally handicapped people so there are a ton of creepos that follow them and try and hit on them.  So we all talked to President about it and they're going to shut down the Sisters area and turn it into an Elders area.  I'm pretty bummed, but at the same time its absolutely necessary.  Those sisters are like my own sisters way cool people and I'll miss working with them.

 

So there is a member here writing a book about Mormonism in Denmark since they all emmigrated in the 1850's and 60's.  First backstory.  They are the church historians in Denmark and take pictures of everything including missionaries that they meet.  Appointments with them always seems to be when I'm on splits so there are pics of me with like 5 other missionaries.  Anyway, they took one of those splits pictures and put one of Elder Greenhalgh and me in their book to help with their blurb about missionaries in the country.  So that will be fun to be a part of.  The book comes out in June and you better believe I'm getting it!!

 

This past week it snowed......twice!!!!  Are you kidding me?  It's April!!!!  (The funny thing here is that I got almost the same comment from Clarissa about Utah!  My southern kids!!-SV)  One thing that I forgot about this week was, Easter.  The great holiday that just dumps missionary work in the toilet!  Unfortunately, it was a lot like last year.  Everybody was on vacation, nobody out on the streets and everybody upset to get their break interrupted!  We had some luck with some non-christian people and met with some of them this week.  Thank goodness Easter is over.  Danish holidays are always long and all about eating and chilling with family and friends.  Everything is closed until the holiday is over.  This one was from Thursday to Monday!  Sucky!

 

Anyway, hope ya'll had a good Easter!  Have a great week!  Love ya!

 

MKH

William

 

PS- Here are some pics of William and Elder Jones and apartment!

Too many people overvalue what they're not and undervalue what they are. - Malcom Forbes

Hej med jer,

 

How are you guys doing?  Things were pretty quiet this week. We call people so much and nobody can meet, so we're just knocking and contacting all the time! I'm hoping things will start picking up.  Conference was a really nice break from some of the humdrum of the past few weeks.  It's always nice to get that booster.  I really liked President Eyring's talk, the man is so solid!  We had to go to every district's interviews, so there was two days and then we had to have Nykøbing with us for the past 5 days because of conference and interviews.  So I haven't been with Jones basically all week!  He went to the baptism in Randers with Elder Tolman, so I'll have to wait a little bit longer, to see Jutland!  So that's about it on the update!

 

Since this week was so slow I decided to give ya'll a run down on the roommates and the sisters that I'm with almost everyday!

 

Elder David Stoffey:  He replaced me in Ballerup and is an incredible worker.  He is super funny, easy to get along with and a good friend.  He's been out about 8 months, and is from Colorado Springs, Colorado and is the yougest in his family.

 

Elder Kenneth Swenson:  He is Elder Stoffey's greenie.  He was a basketabll player at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah.  He knows Analee (small world-Annalee is William's friend from SUU).  He's way chill and laid back and easy to joke with and have fun.  He's ridiculously tall at 6'6". 

 

Elder Garrett Jones: My companion, pretty cool guy.  Rule follower, very sincere and works extremely hard.  He's from Draper, Utah and has 7 kids in his family. 

 

Sister Ann-Sofia Olsson:  She came with Elder Wright and is really cool.  She's been in the ward since she came to Denmark.  She's from Ohio and struggles a little bit with the language, but works extremely hard. 

 

Sister Julie Moore: She came with Elder Stoffey, she's also really cool, really easy to joke with.  She loves to get out and work and is just like a little energizer bunny.  Sister Olsson is about 6 foot, maybe taller and Sister Moore is like 5'3".  So that's the gang.

 

Hope you guys have a great week.  Love and miss ya'll tons!!!! 

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. - Winston Churchill

Hej med jer! (Sorry to be late getting this posted.  We had a death in the ward this week and we are learning all new things and that slowed me down a bit.  Hope you all had a good week. - SV)

 

How was your guys' week?  Thanks for the pictures!  EJ looks way cute!  Looks like ya'll had a fun time.  Well the big news today.  I talked to President about what to expect for a release date.  He wasn't too happy, but gave me a tentative day to expect, which will be confirmed in a couple months.  October 18.  So that's the day to expect right now.  I also got the ecclesiastical endorsement for BYU and BYU-I done as well.  So it was a productive day.  We had interviews and that went well.  The zone is really starting to pick it up so that is something that both we and President are excited about! 

 

This week was pretty good.  On Monday, we played football.  It was sooo fun.  I played quarterback and Elder Swenson (my other roommate who is 6'6') was the main guy.  We ended up winning and yeah it was just a blast!  Hopefully, we'll be playing next week!  Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, we were on splits with Nykøbing.  That was fun.  I figured it out.  With Slagelse and now being ZL, I've been on splits down there 13 times!!!  So yeah, I know that city pretty well! 

 

Then on Thursday we had a Zone Conference.  It was funny, because we had a training like normal, but Jones and I found a way to incorporate Jimmer into the training.  So we have to make a power point for our trainings and we had a little blurb on Jimmer just as a good sports analogy.  President's face was priceless when that slide came on the screen.  Just like confusion, disapproval, and who the heck is Jimmer Fredette??  Haha.  That was good.  We then went to a Chinese resturaunt with this Asian lady that we do service for all the time and she brought three friends.  Well they're all old, but two of them just kept smiling and stuff at me and everything and so now there is this joke that they are only coming to church (they came to church Sunday) between Jones and the sisters that they're only coming because of me......ugh. 

 

Then it was a pretty normal week, the rest of the time!  Hope you all are doing great!!!!  Sorry there isn't so much to write about.  We don't get a Pday today because we're going to Randers for a baptism for Jones.  So it'll be my first time on Jylland.  That'll be fun and then we've got conference on Saturday and Sunday.  That oughta be fun!!!  Love and miss ya'll tons!!!

 

MKH

William