"Sankt Hans Aften"- A Danish Holiday

Davs!

I hope everyone had a great week! The weather this week was pretty scorching. I got fried on Saturday at a ward party! Even my legs got burnt! (cause I wore shorts) :). I'll just get on with it!

Two weeks ago, we found a half American family! I actually tried something I had never done before while being out. Usually, when a couple is in a car and they're backing out of the driveway, I let them do their thing and be on there way, but the one time I didn't let that happen, we had a great conversation. I walked up the side of their car as they were backing up, then tapped on the window and signaled for them to stop, then the roll down the window and I give a door approach, and then the wife responds in English, "What part of the states are you from?" We come to find out that the husband is American, lived in Montana and has a bunch of LDS friends. He said, "They're the best people I have ever hung out with!" We then talk about eternal families and they said they've never heard that message before nor have they seen Mormons come to their door in Denmark, nor met a Mormon. They even said, "You're more than welcome back - in fact, please come back." So that was good. We went back this week and taught the Restoration and eternal families. They loved it! They're willing to read the Book of Mormon and find it's truth, so we're hoping for more success with them in the future. We're happy we've been finding families left and right!! It's been great! We've got several appointments set up this week, so hopefully they all hold! If they do, they'll be golden!

This week, we had a holiday called "Sankt Hans Aften." It's some old Viking holiday that celebrates the longest day of the year, so they make a HUGE bonfire, then throw a witch (scarecrow) into it and sings some sort of carols. It was pretty interesting! Then on Saturday, we had a ward summer party! So we chilled on a farm with a bunch of members and grilled. It was really fun. It was a good opportunity to get to know members better, so it was a good thing overall. 

It's the beginning of a new transfer! So we'll see what miracles the next 6 weeks bring! I hope you all have a great week! I love and miss you tons!!

MKH,

Æ. Taylor Howes

The Summer Party (Elder Allred) & us and the APs at the church building (behind us)! (my companion to the right)

20.06.2016

Hey!

It's been a pretty good week. Things are going better here! The weather has been pretty mild and breezy. It's been jacket weather. Rain jacket weather. It was dumping rain this week, but luckily I was inside at President O'Bryant's house for 3 days for the new missionaries 30 day training. I can't complain! :)

This week, I got to go to the temple! I also went like 3 weeks ago, but I didn't mention it. I love going to the temple though. This time, I took a family name. It was actually a name of a guy who lived in Iredell County, NC like 300 years ago. So I thought it would be fit to take him with me to the Denmark temple. It was pretty special! 

We did a quite a bit of finding this week too.. We actually found some more families! One of the families we found a couple weeks ago finally made it to church! It was a wife and 4 kids. They fit right in and they were well received by the members! The family had an INCREDIBLE time at the church and the kids LOVED it. We should be setting a baptismal date goal with them this week, and I'm sure they'll accept it too! They really felt something special at church and it opened their eyes. 

Anyways, I've learned a lot this past month, and I found some scriptures that really opened my eyes, so I hope they open yours too. It's in D&C 58:4 "For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand." Then in Mosiah 23:21-22, "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." We may be struggling with something and no matter how hard, how often or how sincere we pray, our situations may not be changed, our burdens may not be lightened. It's important to remember the Lord's time is NOT our time. The Lord will free us from our challenges and rough situtations in his own time. It's our job to be patient and just ride the situation like you're riding and angry bull. It won't be fun, and we'll fall many times, but the lesson the Lord wants us to learn is that we don't learn and grow in our good times where we have things easy in our lives, but we learn when we're having a rough time. Even though it's hard, we should look to see what we can do ourselves to learn and grow, and the Lord will do the rest and completely remove you from the situation in his own due time. I myself am still learning, but just ride the bull and hope for the best! :)

Hey, all is well! I hope all is well with everyone wherever you are! I love and miss you tons! 

MKH, 

Æ. Taylor Howes

Airplanes!

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good couple of weeks. Sorry for not writing last week. That was my bad. Anyways, the weather is still on the incline, but today took a turn for the worse. It's like 50 degrees and cloudy. It's pretty unfortunate considering the past weeks have been beautiful. I'm sure it won't stay this way though!

This week was pretty good. Last week was good too. We taught like, my mission record number of lessons last week, and this week we shot for last weeks success, but we didn't quite get there. On the bright side, we found 3-4 families, and one of those families decided they would be baptized when they found out the church was true. They're pretty positive and almost came to church this week, but they had a reasonable excuse stand in the way - but they're coming next week! We're meeting with them this week, so hopefully once they come to church, we'll be able to put them on baptismal date. Other than that, we're still picking up new investigators and we find a potential about everyday. Things are going in the right direction still! 

This week, we spent P-day on the beach by the airport! I took one pic... Surprise! An airplane. You can see that at the end. 

There was a scripture this week that stuck to me. It's D&C 90:24. It says, "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another." It hit me that we have to be searching for the answers to the problems we've been having. We can't just pray, we have to act by searching and believing. It's after the trial of our faith where we receive our reward. Remember that all will work together for our good if we follow this simple but powerful principles. 

I love you all and thanks for your emails each week. They really do help! :)

MKH, 

Ældste Taylor Howes

PS: Amager Strand & Danmark ud på landet! Solen var lidt stærk i mine øjne! 

Happy May!!!

Hey!

This has been a pretty uneventful week. But hey! The sun is shining today and it's 60 degrees or somewhere around there. Some of you might say that's cold, but it's the warmest it's been all year and it might not get much warmer! It's been a pretty rainy week, so I'm glad that the weather let up for a day! 

Let's see.. Well.. I spent all day inside on Tuesday because I came down with some nasty cold. I worked the rest of the week, but lost my voice while I was on splits with the Elders in Amager (East Copenhagen), so I couldn't really do much missionary work myself, but I was still out doing it while my companion did all the talking! Poor kid, but he muscled through it with a smile. We found some potentials this week and taught a couple street/door lessons, but nothing has progressed too much. We're working on it though...... It's a tough area! 

Ummm.. well, I gotta give a shoutout to my sister getting married this week! Holla! Happy marriage! And this week is Mother's Day! I love you mommy! Pretty exciting week! I'm excited to skype on Sunday :D! It feels like just yesterday that I last skyped! Time flies when you're having fun!

I found a couple good scriptures this week, as usual! It's in 2nd Nephi 26:23-24;33. It says, "For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness. He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him...for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." I like this because it tells us that God will never forsake us. He only brings good. He doesn't cause confusion. He isn't just letting bad things happen. His goodness and glory is available to all those who seek it. EVERYONE. Don't get mad at God for what's happening. He wants the same thing you do...peace. He'll give it to you, just ask Him. Don't work in darkness, but dwell in His light. :)

I hope you all have a good week and give your mommas a big hug! :)

Love, 

Ældste Taylor Howes

Sorry I don't have pictures.... ):