Christmas Morning

Christmas Week

It has been a very good week. Me and Elder Gifford have had the opportunity to try to get contact with as many RCLA's as we could. We set a goal of visiting and achieving 8 RCLA's this week. We got close of making it to 7. We did our best and a couple of the RCLA's canceled on us. We have had a lot of things happen this past week. It has of course been a tough week also.

We spent Monday night with one of the best Danish members I have ever been with. I can't even say all the things that we did. I don't think i would be able to finish emailing everyone. I will try to be fast. We had a phillipino dinner.(First time I have ever had that) Could barely taste the shrimp. Technically it was my fist time having shrimp haha. Don't judge, I grew up partially as a picky kid. I at least ate the whole entire dish they gave me. Never ate so much in my life. We had this type of Rice porridge, Ricsen Grøl (I think that probably spelled wrong ahhaa), where you put cinnimon and butter on top of this hot porridge. So delicious! Than we danced and sang around the Christmas Tree. Played musical chairs with presents where we had to pass the presents around and try to open through layers and layers of gift wrapping when the music was off. Than we followed the leader and sang and ran around the house. Than we had presents on the table and played like a white elephant game. The family wrapped all sorts of supplies that A missionary might need. I WON candy, toothbrush, shaving cream, dish washing soap, cookies. Eleif, one of the coolest members in Denmark, gave all of the missionaries the 2 different of the same skinny. So we can coordinate and wear the same tie on Sundays haha. We than ate some ice cream. Than while waiting for the bus gave a quick message and watched one of Elief's missionary videos from serving in England, the normal day version of the Prodigal Son haha.

Next day, Danish Christmas, we visited a less active. Than went to Church and asked the Bishop's wife when she was expecting us over for Dinner. (We were thinking around 6ish) She replied 4:30 at the latest haha. What the!?!?!?!?! So to make her happy we went over at 4 haha. After the program we were with the Bishops family. their son Mattias, I forgot to mention this, apparently I found out when I first got here that he served in the same mission as me in Chicago. He even had the same mission president. We did alot of the same activities as the previous night. But he ate Rics Alimon. Which is the same rice porridge, but cold. It has chopped almonds in it except for one and the objective is to eat and find the Almond. Out of the 3 times we have done it, I finally found the ALMOND yes! I ended up winning one of the best chocolate mints in Denmark haha. I loved being with this family it was awesome. (For dinner we had fleskistie, not sure on spelling haha, straight up pork with a layer of hard cooked fat around the pork, man it is so delicious can't find it in America without asking the butcher) But being with this family, it truly felt like home: peace, love, and friendship! it will probably be one of the memorable Christmas's I will probably ever have.

Next day we went caroling at an old folks home. Found out that it was as effective as knocking. We had a lot of grumpy people and people shutting the doors in our faces. Won't do that again haha. A senior missionary couple that lives in our ward, we dropped by them and they appreciated us caroling to them haha, The wife let us in and just fed us haha. I love that family! After we biked like crazy to go give a blessing. And guess what happened on Christmas day..... Yep I got a flat tire =( So upset with that. Had to pump my tire and ride as fast as we could. Stop and do it again just so we would make our train. Got to the station rode the train for 20 minutes and found out that the people that wanted a blessing were at the hospital now. So we traveled back and than took the buses and were about to do drop by's witht the Hillerød elders and than they got a message saying to come back. Well we didn't have time. We returned back to our apartment and fixed my bike and the other Elders went to give the blessing (it was in their area anyways ahah) We than had the opportunity to Skype the family later that night after a dinner appointment. It was so awesome to see them all in Duck Dynasty attire haha. I miss and love them so much! It completed the Christmas =) Love you Read Family!! Kia is such a fat dog ahaha

We have many miracles this past week of dropping by members and asking them who could be bring a bunch of cookies to. Someone who could need them during this Christmas time or possibly might be interested in a message. It has been positive. Many people who we dropped by were shocked and they thanked us. They saw us and many of them called the members and told them thank you. But we are sure this arrised questions. It helped the members have the opportunity to answer who we were and what we teach. One of the miracles came when at the beginning of the month me and Elder King prayed for families that we could do to it specifically and ask them for referrals. We visited this past week with the members and they told us to go to a family relative that was an excommunicated member. We visited and the family was really happy to see us! They invited us in. The wife, not a previous member, had many questions about us as missionaries. We shared a quick Christmas message and thanked them for letting us come in. The husband, excommunicated, even invited us to come back with the other 2 missionaries and help him with as he said it ''true missionary work'' service in his yard. We gave him our number and we found out that they have a daughter that is about the age for baptism! It was a wonderful miracle!

We also made contact last night with the Swedish/Danish family that called out to us from across the street. (Asking us if we were the Mormon Missionaries) The husband didn't seem interested at the time. They have 2 children and they showed us their mini nativity set. They wanted to show us what they thought of Christmas, the true meaning. The husband left the room and we gave our Christmas message. The wife loved it and was maybe interested in coming to our church. We gave her an address and were about to leave, when the husband out spurted that he found Jesus in Peru, he's there too you know. They seemed like the perfect family! We are planning on dropping by again in the very nearby future and hopefully share the Plan of Salvation with them.

It's been an awesome week! I hope everyone has felt the Saviors spirit as I have this Christmas Season. Love you all and thank you for everything! Continue to share our wonderful message of the restored gospel and about the savior. Until next week, <happy New Year!

Love Elder Jantzen Richard Read

 

 

GOD YUL~ Merry Christmas from Denmark

 

New Companion Elder Gifford~ Mom's missionary Christmas tree in the background

   We didn't get the chance to teach Brother Andersen's neighbors because Elder King was sick the whole day! Karma I know right. So I spent the whole day preping the apartment, cleaning and planning for the next coming weeks. Man it got boring after a couple of hours haha. The next day (Wednesday) we had Transfers. Met our Zone Leaders and made the exchange with Elder King. He went with Elder Pitts. And than I waited for Elder Gifford to arrive, than we made the exchange and made our way back to Birkerød.

What a wonderful week we have had. Elder Gifford just came from Nykøbing. He loves to exercise and was the Safety at Alta High School. He lives in Draper Utah. Utah I know a real shocker haha. But he spent 7 months in Nykøbing and finally moved here. He spent a lot of time knocking there, so he's a professional. haha. Also met up with Elder Call again from my MTC group for the 1st time since the MTC. That was awesome to find out that he was with Elder Ogden and now I have 2 Elders from my MTC group now in my District group haha. Me and Elder Gifford have spent much time in finding new investigators this past week. We have been trying our hardest to build up a teaching pool again. We have had many miracles this past week. One was where we knocked on this one man's door and told him we were Mormons and that we have the Book of Mormon. He replied that he just ordered a copy! We set up an appointment this next week to teach him! We have had similar experiences while knocking as well. More than I have ever had while serving a mission.

Another miracle happened this week where we received a text message during an appointment with our new investigator. Earlier that day was not going good. We went out knocking and we had no success. We ignored the message so that we could finish our appointment. The appointment went okay, but we quickly left and biked all the way from Birkerød to Sandholm so that we could teach Bunmi and Adeshina. We later found out after biking our hardest to Sandholm, that that text message was Bunmi saying that she would be in Copenhagen signing some traveling paper work. At this point I felt everything was going wrong. I didn't know what to do. We were stuck. Elder Gifford tried offering ideas but they didn't work out. I never have prayed so hard for Faith and what to do in my missionary life. I tried to stay positive and keep my chin up. I finally thought okay we can go try visiting with a less active (that we tried earlier that morning). She lived near by and I thought she possible would be home. We got there and found out her husband wasn't home. So we scheduled a time we could share a message this next week. After that I had the thought to visit with the neighbors who were members and ask for referrals with cookies. I had to pull out the map to find which street they lived on. While looking up the street a woman and her two kids called out to us ''Are you the mormon missionaries!'' Yes we are, how do you know us. She replied that she had family living in the States that were Mormons and she loved that we were out sharing our message. She told us she like it and thinks that everyone needs our message. We asked if we could come by next week and share a Christmas message. She replied yes! She is Swedish and her husband is Danish! But now we have the opportunity to teach a family!

What a miracle, because if we wouldn't have read that text message from Bunmi after our appointment, than we would have never met her. If the less active's husband was home than we would have never met her. It was a testimony to me that the Lord truly puts people in our path, especially when everything is going wrong and being at the right place at the right time! But we have found a lot of potential investigators this past week. What a wonder time to share this message! The work is truly going forth! What a miracle, what a blessing!

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I am so excited to skype on Wednesday! See you on Wednesday Read Family!

''Some years ago in our meetinghouse in Darmstadt, Germany, a group of brethren was asked to move a grand piano from the chapel to the adjoining cultural hall, where it was needed for a musical event. None were professional movers, and the task of getting that gravity-friendly instrument through the chapel and into the cultural hall seemed nearly impossible. Everybody knew that this task required not only physical strength but also careful coordination. There were plenty of ideas, but not one could keep the piano balanced correctly. They repositioned the brethren by strength, height, and age over and over again—nothing worked.

As they stood around the piano, uncertain of what to do next, a good friend of mine, Brother Hanno Luschin, spoke up. He said, “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.”

It seemed too simple. Nevertheless, each lifted where he stood, and the piano rose from the ground and moved into the cultural hall as if on its own power. That was the answer to the challenge. They merely needed to stand close together and lift where they stood.

I have often thought of Brother Luschin’s simple idea and have been impressed by its profound truth. Tonight I would like to expand on that simple concept, “lift where you stand.” President Uchtdorf.

''Brothers and sisters, fear will be replaced with faith and confidence when members and the full-time missionaries kneel in prayer and ask the Lord to bless them with missionary opportunities. Then, we must demonstrate our faith and watch for opportunities to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ to our Heavenly Father’s children, and surely those opportunities will come. These opportunities will never require a forced or a contrived response. They will flow as a natural result of our love for our brothers and sisters. Just be positive, and those whom you speak with will feel your love. They will never forget that feeling, though the timing may not be right for them to embrace the gospel. That too may change in the future when their circumstances change.

It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand. While the outcome is a result of the exercise of one’s agency, sharing the gospel is our responsibility.

Trust the Lord. He is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep, and His sheep know His voice; and today the voice of the Good Shepherd is your voice and my voice. And if we are not engaged, many who would hear the message of the Restoration will be passed by. Simply stated, it’s a matter of faith and action on our part. The principles are pretty simple—pray, personally and in your family, for missionary opportunities. The Lord has said in the Doctrine and Covenants that many people have been kept from the truth only “because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12).

The Lord knows us. He knows we have our challenges. I realize that some of you may feel heavy laden, but I pray that none of you would ever feel that reaching out in normal, pleasant ways to share the gospel would ever be a burden. Rather, it is a privilege! There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the service of the Lord.

The key is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you. When members view the work of salvation as their responsibility alone, it can be intimidating. When they view it as an invitation to follow the Lord in bringing souls unto Him to be taught by the full-time elders and sisters, it is inspiring, invigorating, and uplifting.

We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior.'' Elder Ballard

And it is not to late! We still have Time =) Keep trying the Lord will bless you in your efforts! NO effort is wasted!

Love you all and GOD JUL!

Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

 

Christmas in Birkerod

                                                                                                                                                                     
Decorating a "REAL" Christmas tree... so much fun!




                       Lighting Christmas tree in Allerod... fun Danish tradition

Santa photo bomb...good old Santa

Drum roll for transfers...Elder King the new 007!

Last Wednesday, President Sederholm called about transfers. Initially when I answered the phone I thought he want to come on a teaching appointment with us. I pulled out my planner and set it next to our map. We were on a bus making our way to Kokkedal. I answered and found out President Sederholm wanted the phone on speaker. We were on a bus? Really? Yep haha. So I put the phone on speaker and he announced transfer calls. Elder King got called and will be transferred to the Gladsaxe ward. (President's ward) He will be not a District leader, but now will be replacing Elder Peterson as Zone Leader!!!!!! Whoa! Didn't see that one coming, but I know he will do an awesome job. Elder Read will be staying in Birkerød........ I will be now companions with Elder Gifford (He has been out on his mission over a year). Come to find out he was one of Elder King's companions haha! I will be taking over the area and showing Elder Gifford around haha. Elder Gifford will be the new District leader! Yah. This is going to be awesome. I hear he cooks awesomely haha. But he works out like crazy so I'm feeling pretty good haha. I'll let you know on further details.

But after we found out that I would not be training a new missionary, which took a lot of stress off my plate, me and Elder King were just talking about what would be happening next week. ..What Elder Gifford is like etc. We got up and got off the Bus. We started walking away for about a 1/4 of a mile. And found out guess what My Planner slipped probably in between me and Elder King and was left on the bus!!!!! Guess who was so happy to find that out. Not ME!!!! I'm still so mad about it. But it's lost for good. Which stinks. 6 weeks of my life just... poof gone. Hope I kept a good detail journal hahaha. But enough of that news.

It has been an interesting week. Not exactly what we were planning this week. We started off great with the Bornholm Elders coming on Splits this past week. It was great, besides the fact that both of our appointments cancelled on us last second. So me and Elder Madsen did our best to go and find people. We didn't get immediate success, but I was grateful to learn some insight from Elder Madsen. We later had a dinner appointment of American style Beef Stew, not too bad, (The wife is Danish and the Husband is American haha, doesn't like the Danish ways and has a lot of American Pride in him haha) and then went with Elder Wright to go teach a less active family. We had the opportunity to give a Priesthood blessing because the husband was having surgery the next morning.

I later woke up the next morning not feeling so good. We believe that somehow I got food poisoning and I was sick the whole day. To be honest it was my worst missionary day that I have had on my mission. I had to stay in bed the whole day. Elder King was forcing me to rest and sleep so that I had a higher chance of working the next day. I hated it the most because as I told Elder King, I was doing nothing. I wanted to so badly to go out and work, and I couldn't. To be honest it is the worst feeling for me. I hate doing nothing, work is in my blood... just how my father raised me. =) Don't worry Mom, Sister Sederholm has been checking up on me and taking good care of me haha. I am feeling much better. It was really just a 24 hour deal. I am as healthy as can be! DON'T WORRY MOM! I know you do anyways!

While I was sick, Elder Ogden and Elder Earl came on emergency splits with us so that I could have a babysitter and we could get our very important appointments. Elder Earl and King went to visit Michael Williams and found out that he feels like his conscious was telling him the time wasn't right for him to get baptized this Saturday. Which they pointed out it was the Spirit telling him that. He wants to learn more and come to know that it is true. He is still positive and still wants to meet and has come to Church. He wants to find out so badly that we missed his bus yesterday for church and started walking. haha. Luckily we got him a ride. But we are looking into January for his baptism.

We sang Christmas Carols and gave out Book of Mormons last Saturday in Helsingør gågade (Shopping street) with our District and the Zone Leaders again. Super more effective this time, there were tons of people there. We had 22 Book of Mormons and we gave them out in 20 minutes.We saw much success last Saturday when we went caroling. It was amazing to see the miracles go before us. People were clapping, crying, asking about who we were and watching us as we sang carols. I truly believe that the Spirit touched many hearts that day! I hope that we can continue to do that the next couple of weeks.

Later that day we did service for the Rosenkilens. They are an amazing family! Love them dearly, they treat the missionaries so good! After service they wanted us to set up the Christmas Tree! Ja Tak! It felt like we were home with the family. It's weird how you take setting up even the Christmas tree for Granted haha. It was fun. (Practically All Danes do not buy plastic trees, they buy them fresh every year! They even throw tinsel on them!!! What that was a first haha.) Than we ate Mexican Tacos!!!! Yah it was good! haha

I hope and pray that me and Elder Gifford can keep up the work in Birkerød and continue having success. I believe that we will still continue to do wonders here. I believe that we have some more prime opportunities to find this week. I am going to miss Elder King, but now he is my Zone leader! And his phone number is now 007 haha. (He's a big James Bond fan, fits him perfectly) It's been fun to have Elder King. I know that President Sederholm was truly inspired to put him with me to train me and to teach with him to certain people. Training is over and now it's just learning Danish and making sure me and Elder Gifford stay busy. =) haha. I wish you all a Merry Christmas. And continue to encourage you to keep taking Elder Ballard's Challenge. Christmas has not passed yet. Just 1 Person =) And we have had an excuse now to talk about Christ! The whole world is doing it already. =) ''Brethren (and Sisters) of all ages unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it!''-Elder Holland. I hope and pray that we all can continue to find people and truly have them get to know our Savior and His message! Because we do have the TRUTH. I love you all Merry Christmas.

Haste to the battle, quick to the field;

Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.

Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!

We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

-Elder Jantzen Richard Read

I am alive! Survived the Hurricane!

It has been a wonderful week. We watched Ephraims Rescue at Zone Confernece. The movie ''Ephraims Rescue'' has been going over my mind over and over this past week. I saw it before I came out on a mission and it was a good refresher. It helped to continue motivating me. Knowing that if we have the faith we can do all things and nothing is impossible. Elder King has been having me practice teaching Danish principles to him, it's been quiet a challenge, sometimes I don't understand something fully enough to explain it. It's been a bit frustrating and stressful but it has been helping me teach myself what the principles mean. This morning I was studying diligence and read Alma's counsel to Shiblon (Versus 4 and 10) and D&C 75:2-5. A quote to my mind while studying this. ''With this staff... you shall do My Wonders'' and the song ''Through Heavens Eyes'', By Brian Stokes Mithcell from the Prince of Egypt. Made me think that through Christ we can do all things. I've been trying my best to have patience and to rely on our Savior. Another quote just comes to my mind now from Only a Stonecutter. It goes something like ''I would rather die with my face pushing my handcart toward Zion, than to falter by the way side''. Enduring is the key when I have studied these attributes this past month. Elder King keeps reminding me Elder Holland ''I didn't say it was going to be easy, I just said it would be worth it.''

We have been able to teach Brother Andersen's neighbors daughter and her friend English and it is slowly progressing in the right direction. We talked with them over dinner and they asked many questions about missionary life and the church in general. They don't seem to have much interest, but they want us to keep teaching their daughter and her friend. At the end of the lesson the friends mother came to pick up her daughter. We were able to meet her and it opens up another door to teach the friends family! And now it opens up another door to share the Gospel with that family also! The Lord has truly prepared people that are ready!

We were also stuck in the apartment, because of the Hurricane. We managed to use our time effectively. We wrapped Book of Mormons' for Saturday's gågade caroling. We also did our weekly planning and were able to go through what needed to be done these next coming weeks before Christmas. Glad everyone is ok, we understand it was a really rough hurricane.

On Saturday we went our Caroling, before the Ward Christmas Party, in Allerød's Gågade. We as a district of 6 and the Zone leaders sang and gave out Book of Mormon's. It was a huge success. We saw many smiling faces when caroling and saw miracles when we talked with them and gave out Book of Mormons. I saw Elder Ogden contact a person. She didn't know Danish. She was from Brazil. He gave her a wrapped Book of Mormon and she was very interested in learning more about the Mormon religion! It was a huge success that we are going to do it again this or next Saturday.

We also received a phone call from Finn last night. Asking if we could come over and talk with him. His summer house got flooded and a tree fell on top of the summer house during the storm. We went over as soon as we could. We shared with him John 14:16-18 &26-27. We talked about how he has the Holy Ghost now and he can have that peace and guidance. He can ask for help from 1st the Lord, than members and missionaries. I recall talking about verse 18 with him and saying that our Heavenly Father will never leave you alone. He will be with you always. I remember that I was able to speak very smoothly. Better than I think I have in the past. It was a huge miracle to see that the Lord was able to bless me with the Gift of Tounges so that I could talk with Finn. Also it was funny to see that Finn's dog, sillia.... accidentally pooped inside. Reminded me of Kia. =) Finn wasn't to happy.

The day before the storm, I had the opportunity to contact a gentleman at a bus stop and talk with him. By the time we got on the bus and at the train station I had the impression to give him a card and a Book of Mormon. As soon as we got off, I told him that I had a Christmas gift for him and tried to give it to him. He said that I could give it to someone else who could better use it. He said he wasn't religious. I tried explaining it was for everyone. But he said thank you anyway and started walking away. I smiled and said Merry Christmas to him. Even though it wasn't a huge success I remember what Ephraim said before healing Thomas Dobsen with the Priestood. ''I try''. And that was what kept my head up the rest of the night. I tried. I'll do the best of what I can and try to act on every impression. I know that alone I will fall short every time. But it's is through our Savior, Jesus Christ, That we can accomplish all things! God Jul!!!

                                   Copenhagen temple

 

 

              Marmokirken (Marble Church) Queen's residence

 

 

                               Famous little Mermaid
 

 

Finn playing the flute at the ward Christmas party

 

Wrapping up Book of Mormons to give away

 

Dancing around the Christmas tree... Danish tradition

 

 

Copenhagen Temple... What the? 5 months have gone by!

 

 

                                                    Marmokirken (The Marble Church)

Copenhagen Temple

 

I received an email from a friend stating I've been out for 5 months.... What happened there!?! I feel like I just came out! A little nerve racking thinking that I have just left the 20's for good, until I get to the point of being out on my mission for that long, but I'm sure I won't be thinking that way haha.

   We had preparation day on Saturday so that we could go to the Copenhagen Temple!! Also went to the Marmokirke, both things was awesome loved every minute of it. After that was over I found out that my memory card was full. I got home that night and put a new memory card in. Ironically it turns out that I have not taken pictures since than haha. Whoops =). Also for bad news, no joke. GUESS WHO GOT ANOTHER FLAT TIRE! Ah I was so mad. Turned out me and Elder King both got a flat tire within 10 minutes of eachother. Spent an hour last night and an hour this morning fixing it. Luckily I had the tools and a repair kit. And luckily I have an awesome Father and Scout master, who taught me how to change a tire. Just to happened to be on the back tire >( So it was time consuming. Not happy about it, but hey what can you do haha.

Anyways, It felt so good to go back to the temple. It has such a warm homely feeling that I have missed dearly. Something in Utah I took for granted. They are still showing the old film, most likely the new film won't be over here until possibly after December. But we did a session, we met the new temple president, and awesomely the previous previous Denmark Mission President. And we also met 2 Swedish missionaries, We did a session and because we are Danish missionaries we did it all in Danish! Coolest thing ever! Probably the last time I will see the old film, understood a +90% of it which was a miracle. But I am excited for the new film for sure.

We are having essential preparation day today. Were we only get food, wash our clothes and email everyone. Because we went to the temple on Saturday. But it was awesome on Saturday. Went to Nyhavn again, when everyone was Christmas shopping. Went to where the Queen lives and saw the oprah house across the bay. We also saw the National guards switch out so that was interesting. Than went to Marmokirken (The Marble Chruch). We were able to talk with people from the Netherlands (Yep Grandpa that's right =) They thought we worked for the church, but really we were getting a tour. But we were able to answer their questions about our church that they had. We wanted to give them our card with a number on it, possibly a Book of Mormon, but the tour guide stopped us when they left. Turned out he had some questions and he was very interested in learning more about the Mormons. We talked with him at the top of the Marmokirke for 1/2 hour, which was beautiful, could see all of Copenhagen and over to Sweden. but he had lots of questions. Turns out that that was his last tour that he was doing and he got a better job some where else. Just so happened that 6 missionaries were in his last group. Coincidence I think not! haha. Gave him a card and a Book of Mormon as a thank you to him and an early Christmas gift. He said that he was going to go check out the church where he lives and he was going to start reading that night! What a Miracle. The Lord truly puts people in our paths that are ready!

We started an English fast from Tuesday night to Friday night. And on top of that. Elder King was having me take over the area. He didn't have any input on anything. He wanted to prove to me that I am now capable of taking over the area, doing things on my own without his help, improving my Danish and preparing me for the possibility of training. It has been a stressful week but rewarding! We have found 2 new investigators. They both came from actually knocking!?! can you believe it haha. 1 out of a million I sware. But we met with a woman named Mearon (From Ethiopia) and her Husband Daniel (Danish). They have an 8 month old child named Noah. We taught them both the Restoration. They even began the conversation by saying they wanted to come to church! Check haha. Daniel is sometimes really busy, Works sometimes on weekends as like a brain specialist and works for sometimes 15hrs in one day. Crazy. But he gets to be with his family! They are very interested in our message and they accepted the invitation to be baptized when they find out that it is true. So we are waiting on them. But they are the perfect family! Love them already!

We also made a journey to a previous investigators home. the route we planned on the internet/ Rejseplan took us out to the middle of the woods. Which was awesome because it felt like I was in the mountains again, but we had to walk forever to the previous investigators home, talk with them and see if they wanted to investigate agian than walk all the way to Slangerup. We calculated about 6km that we walked in all.

We also were able to teach Brother Andersen's neighbors daughter and her friend. (FYI, there is a thing called Rejseplan, like google maps. Type in both addresses and the website will plan your bus, train, metro routes. for you.) Turns out for the 1st time it failed us. We missed our bus by like 10 minutes in Frederikssund and had to run about mile in church shoes again! to their home. Man I was feeling the Shin splints coming on. Man I'm out of shape haha.

But Sicillia and Matilda, Brother Andersens neighbors. We began teaching them English and getting to know them. They both are only 11 years old and there English is amazing! They already know so much! But it's when we start speaking fast, is when they have a hard time understanding. Huh weird, wonder where I've heard that before. Gave me a good look in the mirror. To see and feel what others might think of when speaking in my native language. But they are amazing. Sicillia's father, Klaus, had to be in the proximity (3rd man rule) and his wife, Rekke, came home later with their I believe 1 year old child. They invited us to Dinner next time and thanked us and they said they enjoyed getting to know us from the other room hahaha. They are super postive! I love them to death. I want to start teaching them to badly but we are waiting for them to ask the questions. Because we know it's there. We are excited to much for the future for them. Because they are gaining the trust in the missionaries, getting to know us and the Spirit is already in their home when we are there!

Michael W. also came to church yesterday! He needs to come 2 more times if we are going to make it to December 21st. We met with him after church in Sandholm. And he really enjoyed church, doesn't love the language barrier, because he's from Ivory Coast. But he loves the members. The members have stepped it up and took the initiative to be nice and great him and get to know them! Taught Michael the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he still wants to make December 21st his goal!

Man it has been a good week! Crazy the transfer is almost over again. We will be finding out the plans most likely, not this week but next week. But I am so grateful for the time I have been in Birkerød. It has been a blessing to watch the Spirit of the Lord work through the people around us! I am so grateful for the Savior and am grateful that we can celebrate his birth this Christmas Season! And where we all can focus on what the Savior would do and how we can serve others! Thanks again! I hope you all have had a wonderul Thanksgiving! Love you All and God JUL (Merry Christmas!)

-Elder Jantzen Richard Read