51. Our Swedish Senior Mission, and Need for Senior Missionaries
When I was about 18 years old, I received a lovely comforting blessing from the 88 year old Patriarch, for whom I typed blessings. He said the day would come when I would serve a mission. At that time (1953) a girl had to be 23 years old to serve a mission. I didn't expect to be able to go then, and I did get married about 2 weeks before I turned 21.
We began to have a family, and after having 9 children over 18 years, our lives were quite busy. But we still had a desire to go on a couple mission when we could. Finally, in 1993, after our last child, a daughter Pam, got married, we put in our papers. Wayne had gone on a mission to Sweden when he was young, in the early 1950's. He had kept up on the language, so we were thrilled when we received a call in December 1993 to go to Sweden. But we had 5 months before we were to go early in May, 1994.
In a trip up north during that time, we went to the Mission Home in Provo and asked if we could get a Swedish Language training book. They told us of a program for Seniors (hopefully they still have it if you inquire), where someone called me (the non-Swedish speaker) 2 times a week, and for 45 minutes gave me assignments in the language book, and checked what I was learning. Wayne could help also. I remember during that time we went for a short trip to Panguitch Lake, and stayed in a cabin, especially to give me a quiet time to study the language. I remember actually shedding tears, saying "I can never learn to speak this language!" But I underestimated the "Gift of Tongues"!
Then we went to the Senior MTC in Provo, and because I had the extra help and Wayne was getting bored waiting for me to learn Swedish, they sent us to Sweden after 1 month in the MTC. I can say that I became proficient enough to give talks, and converse with people in Swedish, though I never did master the grammar. I'm so glad I had the chance to learn another language. I just want to encourage anyone reading this to plan for a couple mission when you are able! We loved it, and have such wonderful memories of our time there. We still keep in touch with several dear friends there through e mail and Facebook. I'm including a few pictures of our time there.
Wayne and I in front of the Borgholm Castle, on an island which we reached by driving on a bridge over the ocean -- around 4 miles long! It's roof burned down in 1805. It is massive!
A dear family, the Borghay's, from Iran, who were refugees in Sweden. They made us a "Persian" dinner. A dear family, who didn't join the Church but after we came home, they did become Christians. I'm sure someday when they understand more they will accept the Gospel. We kept in touch with them for a few years.
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This is Wayne baptizing Roger Carlson, our only baptism. But several we taught and then we were transferred, were baptized by other missionaries.
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This photo was taken on Christmas Day, 1994 in Kalmar, Sweden. The man with white hair is Kamran Mafi. He painted the picture of Jesus and came on Christmas, on a Sunday that year, and wanted to give it to the Church. We had been teaching him English. The Church couldn't accept it, so we brought it home, and have it framed in our family room. It is large -- about 24 by 36 inches. He told us that he had painted it a bit different from the well known Del Parson painting, as he had been in Jerusalem, and knew what Jews looked like, their facial structure, etc.
We also gave him a Book of Mormon in Persian (selected passages translated.) He was very educated and had taught art and sculpture in a university in Tehran, Iran. He told us if we could get him the plates, he could make a much better translation! His story of how he escaped Iran, and found his family had fled to Sweden while he was in jail 3 years for disagreeing with the government is fascinating. He was a dear friend! We think he is now in Canada, as his son is a doctor there.
Quotes I've read about LDS Missionaries and Senior Missionaries
When I was about 18 years old, I received a lovely comforting blessing from the 88 year old Patriarch, for whom I typed blessings. He said the day would come when I would serve a mission. At that time (1953) a girl had to be 23 years old to serve a mission. I didn't expect to be able to go then, and I did get married about 2 weeks before I turned 21.
We began to have a family, and after having 9 children over 18 years, our lives were quite busy. But we still had a desire to go on a couple mission when we could. Finally, in 1993, after our last child, a daughter Pam, got married, we put in our papers. Wayne had gone on a mission to Sweden when he was young, in the early 1950's. He had kept up on the language, so we were thrilled when we received a call in December 1993 to go to Sweden. But we had 5 months before we were to go early in May, 1994.
Then we went to the Senior MTC in Provo, and because I had the extra help and Wayne was getting bored waiting for me to learn Swedish, they sent us to Sweden after 1 month in the MTC. I can say that I became proficient enough to give talks, and converse with people in Swedish, though I never did master the grammar. I'm so glad I had the chance to learn another language. I just want to encourage anyone reading this to plan for a couple mission when you are able! We loved it, and have such wonderful memories of our time there. We still keep in touch with several dear friends there through e mail and Facebook. I'm including a few pictures of our time there.
Wayne and I in front of the Borgholm Castle, on an island which we reached by driving on a bridge over the ocean -- around 4 miles long! It's roof burned down in 1805. It is massive!
.jpg)
This is Wayne baptizing Roger Carlson, our only baptism. But several we taught and then we were transferred, were baptized by other missionaries.
.jpg)
This photo was taken on Christmas Day, 1994 in Kalmar, Sweden. The man with white hair is Kamran Mafi. He painted the picture of Jesus and came on Christmas, on a Sunday that year, and wanted to give it to the Church. We had been teaching him English. The Church couldn't accept it, so we brought it home, and have it framed in our family room. It is large -- about 24 by 36 inches. He told us that he had painted it a bit different from the well known Del Parson painting, as he had been in Jerusalem, and knew what Jews looked like, their facial structure, etc.
We also gave him a Book of Mormon in Persian (selected passages translated.) He was very educated and had taught art and sculpture in a university in Tehran, Iran. He told us if we could get him the plates, he could make a much better translation! His story of how he escaped Iran, and found his family had fled to Sweden while he was in jail 3 years for disagreeing with the government is fascinating. He was a dear friend! We think he is now in Canada, as his son is a doctor there.
Quotes I've read about LDS Missionaries and Senior Missionaries
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, every one of us has the blessing and responsibility of sharing the gospel. Some of those who need the gospel in their lives are not yet members of the Church. Some were once among us but need to feel again the joy they felt when they embraced the gospel at an earlier time in their lives. The Lord loves both the person who has never had the gospel and the person who is returning to Him. To Him and to us, it doesn't matter. It is all one work. It is the worth of souls, whatever their condition, that is great to our Heavenly Father, His Son, and to us.
My dear brothers and sisters, we can build up His Church and see real growth as we work to bring the blessings of the gospel to our family and to those we love. This is the work of our Heavenly Father and His Son.
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As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, every one of us has the blessing and responsibility of sharing the gospel. Some of those who need the gospel in their lives are not yet members of the Church. Some were once among us but need to feel again the joy they felt when they embraced the gospel at an earlier time in their lives. The Lord loves both the person who has never had the gospel and the person who is returning to Him. To Him and to us, it doesn't matter. It is all one work. It is the worth of souls, whatever their condition, that is great to our Heavenly Father, His Son, and to us.
My dear brothers and sisters, we can build up His Church and see real growth as we work to bring the blessings of the gospel to our family and to those we love. This is the work of our Heavenly Father and His Son.---------------------------------
In addition to the need for more young men and women to serve, there is an urgent need for couples. Each time we visit a mission, the universal request is for more couples. The need is great for mature couples who are financially able, possessing strong testimonies and with reasonably good health. Their entry into the mission field adds strength and maturity to our missionary effort.
With the opportunities to labor so plentiful, we need experienced couples to work with those newly converted to the gospel, making sure that the seeds which have fallen on good ground will be nourished and cultivated in order that the tares of a previous life-style will not spring up and choke out the good plants. You mature couples have years of experience in studying, teaching, and administering in the wards and branches of the Church. That experience is so desperately needed throughout the world to prevent the tender new plants from being overcome by worldliness.
You are the ones who can build a firm root structure, which will support the new converts in the truths of the gospel in this life and help them become worthy to receive the blessings in the eternities to come. Listen to the experiences of those couples who have gone forth to serve.
Bishops and branch presidents, only one additional missionary couple called from your ward or branch would mean an increase of over [28,000] couples in our missionary force. Oh, how they're needed!
With the opportunities to labor so plentiful, we need experienced couples to work with those newly converted to the gospel, making sure that the seeds which have fallen on good ground will be nourished and cultivated in order that the tares of a previous life-style will not spring up and choke out the good plants. You mature couples have years of experience in studying, teaching, and administering in the wards and branches of the Church. That experience is so desperately needed throughout the world to prevent the tender new plants from being overcome by worldliness.
You are the ones who can build a firm root structure, which will support the new converts in the truths of the gospel in this life and help them become worthy to receive the blessings in the eternities to come. Listen to the experiences of those couples who have gone forth to serve.
Bishops and branch presidents, only one additional missionary couple called from your ward or branch would mean an increase of over [28,000] couples in our missionary force. Oh, how they're needed!
Having been deeply involved in missionary work for the past several years, I see such glorious opportunities for older couples to continue to be useful in serving their fellowmen. How badly the Church needs us!
There are so many of you who have found fulfillment in serving missions, forgetting yourselves in that important work, staying youthful in the discipline and single-mindedness that come with being immersed in the gospel and sharing your testimonies with all those you meet. I hope I can do the same!
Some have an idea that as we get older we can't learn languages. That is not true. Again and again, we see couples come to the Missionary Training Center without prior knowledge of a language and leave two months later able to communicate. Of course their skills increase as they love and serve in the mission field. Even when a new language is difficult, older couples perform a unique service in the missions simply by being there. Their experience, example, and faith serve as tremendous resources in building inexperienced members of the Church. They are absolutely indispensable to the growth of the kingdom across the world. (I put in bold and underlined important phrases.) I wish we could go on more missions, but we're now too old to go on proselyting missions. So Wayne does Temple ordinance work, and I do Family History, and volunteer in the local Family History Center. -- More about our mission to Sweden in later entries!
There are so many of you who have found fulfillment in serving missions, forgetting yourselves in that important work, staying youthful in the discipline and single-mindedness that come with being immersed in the gospel and sharing your testimonies with all those you meet. I hope I can do the same!
Some have an idea that as we get older we can't learn languages. That is not true. Again and again, we see couples come to the Missionary Training Center without prior knowledge of a language and leave two months later able to communicate. Of course their skills increase as they love and serve in the mission field. Even when a new language is difficult, older couples perform a unique service in the missions simply by being there. Their experience, example, and faith serve as tremendous resources in building inexperienced members of the Church. They are absolutely indispensable to the growth of the kingdom across the world. (I put in bold and underlined important phrases.) I wish we could go on more missions, but we're now too old to go on proselyting missions. So Wayne does Temple ordinance work, and I do Family History, and volunteer in the local Family History Center. -- More about our mission to Sweden in later entries!
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