Remember the MAN OF STEEL

It has been another wonderful week! Me and Elder Ludlow have been able to get a hold of investigators, that we haven't had any contact with for the past transfer, and they are open to meeting again. We also were able to go to Tivoli this past week! It was so much fun! We actually were able to talk with a few people about the church! I also feel like I got jet lagged with all the rides. Been a whie since I rode that fast.
We were able to teach Familien Hansen yesterday. We watched the Restoration Film with them. They actually had to pause the movie right before the 1st vision. While waiting for one of the family members to help their kids out, they talked to us and agreed with everything that the movie had already said about confusion with other religions and if we ever need answers we just ask God. The mother said that's a good thing to understand. We watched the rest and the Spirit was so strong. We asked them what they felt, we were able to help the mother and the rest of the family to recognize the Spirit! The foundation is now there. We believe they didn't have much of a foundation before. They accepted the challenge to actually pray about the Book of Mormon. We have another appointment with them for next Thursday. We are so excited for what will happen!

Yesterday we also were able to meet with the Africans that we taught last week. We only were able to meet with 2 out of the 3. But they are very open and accepting. We actually were able to invite them to baptism and they accepted when they find it to be true!!!! We set goals with them and now will be teaching with them weekly and they want to come to church.
Other than that, that's pretty much the update. We were super busy this week. We had stake conference and I was able to see some people from my previous ward. So good to see them again and chat with them.

We have survived transfers. Elder Christensen and I are in Taastrup together. I dropped off Elder Ludlow this morning. Than me and Elder Eniss, from Holbæk were able to run a few errands, laundry, and we just chilled at the mall. We than went to the train station and picked up Elder Christensen and Elder Durrant. Elder Durrant almost missed his stop and almost didn't get off the train haha. So funny to watch. But me and Elder Christensen are now serving in Taastrup. I am so excited to be serving with him. He already seems like an obedient, loving, hard working missionary. I love him already! I look forward to see what our time together will accomplish. It was sad to see Elder Ludlow leave. I hope and pray that me and Elder Christensen can continue on with the work that Elder Ludlow and the previous missionaries have worked so hard to accomplish.

Well hope you all have a wonderful and fatastic week! I know that we have. What a blessing and an honor to be serving the Children of God! I don't know why but this whole entire week I have been thinking of this quote. I believe it applies to Christ a lot and us as members and missionaries.:

'' You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards.(I like to say 'Hope' =) They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.''- Man of Steel!

Let us all work and strive to be our best. What a wonderful blessing to know that we are in the Last Harvest. It is here and I am grateful to be serving my Father in Heaven in it! Thank you all for your love and support. These missions really do change lives! Have a wonderful week! Until next week

-Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

God Yul! Merry Christmas!... er Easter

The reason I say that is because we knocked on a previous investigators door on Easter and he told us Merry Christmas. Didn't know that the year went so fast haha.

But It has been another wonderful week. We were able to meet with the Swedish lady, Anna Lena, and another man that we found knocking this past week. We were able to meet with a couple, who come from Africa, that we contacted on the street last weekend. These two were specifically a blessing, and we met with them on Easter Sunday!
We originally had appointments with Members on that day. All of which were cancelled at church. We were un sure of what to do for the rest of the day. We made our way back home and got some dinner. Elder Ludlow had the idea to call this couple. We called and they said to come on over! We went over and found that there was a friend who was living in the same apartment. We were able to share an Easter Message and teach the Restoration to them! They all are amazingly postive. The couple were both accepting and they want to come to church! It was a wonderful Easter day! Very unexpected and rewarding at the end of the day. We were able to make another appointment with them for next weekend. We are so excited to teach them again. And we believe there is a family (the friend of the couple) living all together in that apartment as well. We have more potential for more investigators.
It's been a very busy week, and this next following week will be about the same. but for the news that me and Elder Ludlow can't get off our minds!!!!!! TRANSFER CALLS!!!!!!!!! Totally unexpected. President Sederholm pulled a sneaky one at 9 in the morning. We apparently were the first ones to get transfer calls because no one else got them for 3hours!!!! Unfortunately, me and Elder Ludlow have both been taken back a little. We were not expecting this to happen. President told us that Elder Ludlow will be transfering!!!!!!!! And he will be the Zone Leader in Slagelse!!!!!!!!!! HE'S going to be my Zone Leader!!!!!!!! We also found out that I will be getting Elder J. Chrsitensen. He was in Elder Ludlow's MTC group and he will be the District Leader!!!!!

Elder Ludlow is really sad to be leaving Taastrup. He has done so much good here. He is also excited to serve as a Zone Leader in Slagelse with Elder Hardy-Hansen. He really wants to come back and teach these people that he has worked so hard to find. Luckily he will be able to come back on Splits! I am still unsure on my feelings with transfers, I don't know if I am nervous, ready, scared or as I have told Elder Ludlow ''It hasn't hit me that you are leaving this area''. I am so excited to be with Elder Christensen though. From what Elder Ludlow has told me, he sounds like a great missionary. I look forward to be serving with him. I hope and pray that we will both be able to continue to find people to teach. It's just so crazy because I've only been here for a short 6 almost 7 weeks. President is almost throwing me in the deep end haha.

Well everyone GOD PÅSKE!!!!!!!! I hope everyone had an amazing Easter in Remembering the Savior! Keep up the amazing work and examples that you do everyday! our Savior has truly done a Marvelous Work! The Atonement is the greatest thing that we can connect to in this life. May you all feel his love when you read in the the scriptures and pray. This is also a marvelous work that we are doing everyday! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

2 Nephi 29

1 But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a ^amarvelous work among them, that I may remember my ^bcovenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the ^csecond time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the ^awords of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall ^bhiss forth unto the ^cends of the earth, for a ^dstandard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;

Overcoming the fear of water- Happy Easter

It has been a marvelous week! Me and Elder Ludlow have had more opportunities to find more people this week. We actually got let in yesterday from a man who we knocked into a couple weeks ago. On Wednesday, we had a lesson with an investigator. Unfortunatly, we had to drop him. He pretty much told us not to come back, and he was really not interested. On our way to drop by another potential investigator, there was a man who crossed paths with us and stopped us. He asked us if we were the Mormons. We got excited and said yes. He said, I'm Hans you called me a couple weeks ago. He turned out to be the potential investigator, who we were going to stop by. He told us to follow him to this storage place. On our way, we found out that him and his wife both went to the temple open house 10 years ago. That was when he first came in contact with the missionaries. He invited us into his home and his wife was such a joyful person as well. To our surprise they both asked us what was different with our church, or what we believed in. We taught them both the Restoration and invited them both to read from the Book of Mormon. The wife was interested in converting but she was interested in reading the Book of Mormon. The husband (Hans) said that was the first time the he has touched scripture since 3-4 years ago.
We have had many wonderful things that have happened this past week. Many of which would take me the whole day to explain. But we were able to teach Familien Hansen this week. We brought another member who was a convert over 25 years ago. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the member explained so many things in a simple matter and was able to relate to them. The daughter originally brought up that she couldn't be baptized (because she has almost drowned in the past and has never had her head under water ever since). We shared in the New Testament the Savior said ''If you love me keep my commandments'' and shared 1 Nephi 3:7. We told her that through the Lord she wouldn't have to be scared. He would provide the way for her to be baptized and that she would be comforted when it happens. 10 minutes later we had the miracle in the lesson of the oldest daughter saying randomly ''I think I can do! I would really like to be baptized!''. The mother was shocked and her reply to her mother was ''Because it feels right''. I couldn't help but hide my smile. I was grinning ear to ear. Never on my mission have I heard in a lesson ''I would like to be baptized''. The Spirit was really there and confirmed truths to her! But when she said that, she tossed that concern, of having her head under that water, out the window and took courage and wanted to do what she felt was right. Our next step is to teach them all the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. So that we can have her and the parents work on being married as soon as possible.
This day of the lesson, last Thursday, marked Elder Ludlow's year mark as a missionary! We celebrated as a district (because there are 2 sisters who were in his MTC group, that are in our district) by going to a Mexican Buffet. yep of all places we tried going to something that you can't find very often in Denmark haha. (besides us trying to do home made =) Kind of scary, I'm getting close to that 1 year point too AHHHHHHH!!!!. But it was delicious I will say that haha.

Well it's been a fantastic week. Me and Elder Ludlow love being with each other and serving here in Taastrup. It's been amazing with all the miracles that occur around us everyday and the amount of work that has been growning in the area. And we know that this ward 100 day fast is definetly helping with that! We are so grateful for this amazing ward, district and area. Truly a blessing in our lives. We look forward to this next coming week. So many things will be happening. We will be teaching that Swedish lady, who contacted me at the library and killed my emailing time =( haha. This Wednesday. And we will have the great opportunity to bring The Hansen Family to a baptism this Saturday in the Allerød ward!!!!!!! yah!! So excited to go back to the home land haha. Also for all those who are wondering, this past week, we found out Hans Thorhauge and Finn Poulsen (two people I was working with in Birkerød) were reactivated this past week!!!!!!!!!! Yah!!!!!! So many miracles are happening! I thank the Lord for that. This is truly the Harvest. It is here... the Lord is hastening His work, and the Lord is helping us along the way. I love you all and the great examples that you show and do everyday. Keep it up!
Love,

Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

I want to share with you all a video my sister Paisley sent to me this past week. It has a powerful message of what our Savior has done and can do for us in our lives! The link is at the bottom. Happy Easter!

BECAUSE OF HIM

''Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. Because of Him, death is not the end, and life takes on new meaning. We can change, we can start over—and we can live again with God. This Easter, celebrate His life and discover all that’s possible because of Him.''

Matthew 28:6

''He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The empty tomb in that Jerusalem garden is a reminder that when the women who so lovingly cleaned, anointed, and wrapped his body came to observe the tomb, His body was gone, and in His place were two angels.
“He is not here: for He is risen,” they said.
The door on the tomb repeats that phrase: “He is not here, for He is risen.” It reminds visitors that the Savior not only lived and died for us but that He also rose from the dead.

Because Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind it’s possible for each of us to live again with God.''
http://easter.mormon.org/?gclid=CPPA4_qC370CFcU-MgodumEA9A&cid=99112886&s_kwcid=AL!3737!3!44549511015!p!!g!!because%20of%20him&ef_id=UhTQxQAABM6tU5T5:20140414032153:s
Thanks Pais!!!!!!!!

Book of Mormon in Urdu given- Conference rocks!

It has been a marvelous week. Me and Elder Ludlow have been staying busy and finding people along the way. Last Thursday we had the wonderful opportunity to stop by a man, who asked for a Book of Mormon in Urdu. ( We knocked into him about two weeks ago). We knocked again on his door and he was still cheerful with us and asked if we brought the book. We pulled it out and his eyes lit with joy! He said to come on in! He was having dinner with his family and we tried not to intrude, but he said everything was ok. He comes from Pakistan and has a muslium background. He had so many questions of what was in the Book of Momon. Me and Elder Ludlow taught very simply. When we got to the First Vision and the promise of the Book of Mormon, the Spirit just Magnified! As I told Elder Ludlow, ''The Spirit was rocking in that room!'' The Spirit was definetly undeniable in that room. He accepted the invitation to read in it before we even asked him. He is very positive, his wife just arrived with their two kids to Denmark. We hope that we can start teaching the whole family soon!
The downside of the story is that he is really busy for the next two weeks. But he wants us to come back. I also find it ironic that he told us that he was originally supposed to be at his language class that day, when we taught him, but he got really busy. Is it just a coincidence that he just happened to skip his language class that night, and we just happen to show up? In my mind never. I believe that it happened because the Lord wanted it to happen. It was such a powerful first lesson with him. Of course the next step is to see what their future plans are, with going back home or not.
Familien Hansen absolutely loved General Conference and the Temple! We found out that the Holbek Elders ran into them on the way home, and they saw Familien Hansen taking pictures of the temple and full of smiles! We hope that they were making the goal to get there one day! We will be having a family night with them next Monday with President Bernskov (Stake President) and teaching them again this Thursday.

We stayed the Saturday night in the Frederiksberg Elders apartment after the first sesson of General Conference. Where four Elders live (Frederiksberg Elders and the Assistants). . It was a party though. Got to talk and be with Elder King, Nordfelt, Redd, Wright, Ludlow, Zalewski, and Eniss. Man it was packed!Downside is that I had to sleep on a couch haha. Woke up the next morning and had my quarterly interview with President Sederholm and started Conference again.

Other than that it has been an awesome week of finding people and Conference! Everyone here just loved the Prophet speak on the Sunday Morning Session. So inspiring and uplifting. I hope everyone can take that cousel. The world is in need of it! May we all learn and apply what we learned in General Conference. (Man I feel like I just got to Denmark and just watched General conference). Keep up the great work! Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

-Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

Hey everyone along with Elder Ballard's Following up and President Monsons challenges. I hope everyone can get the chance to get a Preach My Gospel! It is a wonderful and inspired book to help us in our everyday missionary work! Using principles of Preach my Gospel and the Book of Mormon you can have have what Elder Ballard is talking about and what missionaries feel daily. Work to invite and love as the Prophet has said!

''Can you even begin to fathom the extraordinary outpouring of atoning grace that will be ours, individually and collectively, according to the Savior's promise to all who bear testimony in the process of inviting souls to come unto Him—and then following up on those invitations." -Elder Ballard

“May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers,” ...... “As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.”- President Thomas S. Monson!

Have a Great week!

Typing Fast and Texting

It has been a good week and a busy week. I really feel like I was writing to everyone yesterday. Last week we had an amazing miracle of a woman contacting me while emailing home. Fortuneatly and Unfortuneatly that killed all my email time and timed me out on the computer haha. She asked me how that I typed on a computer so fast, and if I actually thought and typed at the same time. Turned out she was Swedish and she noticed that I was a missionary. She asked me a little bit about my life. She also asked me about my parents if they were members. I responded yes of course! She than went on to explain to me how she has noticed in life that we inherit things for our parents and that it is sad to see us make decsions because of that. I just smiled and let her finish her statement.
I just so happened to have a Book of Mormon (Danish ah man) I pulled it out. I asked her if she has ever read one or knows anything about it. She says she's heard about it but never has found out what it really is. I than spent the next 30-40minutes sharing my testimony of the Restored Gospel and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I was able to explain to her that we all are eventually backed up to what our parents have said and taught us and there is when we need to make a stand as if that is true. That is what I have done. I have taken Moroni's challenge and I have read, thought over and asked God if it was true. I was able to tell her that I am here because God has given me an answer by the Power of the Holy Ghost. And I want to share this with others. It was so amazing! I could feel the Spirit testify through me to her. Sharing this knowledge not only confirmed my testimony but strengthened it that this is real! She was really open and gave me her phone number. She told me to call her when I got a Swedish Book of Mormon and that she temporarily lives in Taastrup now but will eventually move to Frederiksberg. And than after I was finished talking to her, my computer had 2 minutes left and timed me out on me haha.
I find it interesting that even the smallest strengths, such as typing really fast on a computer, can be a way of someone contacting us missionaries so that Lord gives us the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. We hope to talk with her in the next coming week. We truly believe these miracles are happening because of the Ward fast that is going on now. People are contacting us! The ward has felt impressed to not stop the 40 day fast and continue it for a 100 day fast!!!! The members and their faith in missionary work is just amazing and undescribeable! I am greatful for the love and support of this ward!
We have been able to teach Familien Hansen this week. They found out on a, luckily not a non-mormon website, about the bigger commandments. We told them that we as missionaries will teach them those things. One of our members, convert in the bishopric, was present and he explained all of them very simply that we do things that are commanded of us. We explained that we will teach them to them but we like to teach one bite at a time. After the appointment he explained that you just cannot teach the heavier commandments without the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith for example. I am so impressed that he still recognizes that and the way he was able to handle the situation.
The Hansen's were not able to come to church this week, but we had a surprise miracle. On Saturday, we recieved a text from a woman that me and Elder Ludlow knocked into. (She was taught the Restoration with Elder Ludlow and Eniss) She apolized that we would have to cancel our appointment but she said that we will make another time at church tomorrow. What?!?.....Is she for real? We couldn't believe what she texted to us. We were so shocked by the response that we asked her if she ment our church and she said yes!

She came to church yesterday! It was an amzing expierence for her as well! Me and Elder Ludlow taught guest class about Prophets and the need for them. She took it all in very well and accepted all of it. She even explained some of the principles herself, where she needs to get her own personal/spiritual confirmation to know of it to be true. She told us that she could feel the Spirit in the Church like in other churches she's been in, but also with the missionaries. But that's a start. It's amazing she already recognizes the Spirit and wants to watch General Conference this week and see the Prophet. She loved church and made another appointment for this next week! We are so excited for this up coming week. It was also amazing to feel the Spirit testify through us to her in Danish! I am just fathomed and still shocked that a couple of young 19 and 20 year olds teaching people in a language that we have just started to learn, just under a year ago. What a blessing! I am so grateful for the Lord's help in this work! Just with these miracles alone! My testimony of the Harvest as only just grown and strengthened! The work is truly Hastening! I am grateful that everyone can have a part of it! I love you all and wish you all the best for the next coming week. Enjoy General Conference!

-Ældste Jantzen Richard Read

Man I miss Skiing =(