Is it not great to be a missionary?

May I just say it has been an awesome week! I had the opportunity to come to Aarhus and go on splits with my Zone leaders. Man I have never walked so much during the course of these past 2 months! It was amazing to see and feel of the missionary work just flowing within me and my companion of who I was working with. We found many potentials on the streets! Every stop by we did we were able to teach them! There were so many who felt of the Spirit and were taught Gods truths! I truly saw the blessings of the Lord pour out to us while doing His work!

After an awesome zone training, last Thursday, I was able to go to Skive and work with my old companion Elder Demordaunt and we continued doing work with the Spirit of the Lord. We came back to Viborg and me and Elder Warner were able to find so many people in the past two days!!!! The Lord is truly blessing us in this work. It's amazing to get the feel of it when I have been practically out of commission in the past 2 months. What a blessing to know that God lives! That His Son, Jesus Christ, Lives also! And that this is His and Their work! I hope everyone will feel the love and joy of being missionaries and angels in many peoples lives! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for everything that you all do!

Med Venlig Hilsen,

Ældste Jantzen Read

New Year??? = War Zone!!!

Well the title in the heading stands true! We had to be in athepartment by 6 oclock on the 31st of December. And by 7 oclock, at night, we had fireworks blowing up right out side our door haha. These are the type of fireworks people go to concerts and 4th of July festivals for!!!. This is one thing I will miss when I leave Denmark. The madness and awesomf the apartment.

eness of the New Year! The next morning the fireworks kept going off all day haha. Not as frequent but crazy! We had to still stay in the apartment until 6 oclock, at night, doing a deep clean o

In sad news but spiritual news, this past week a member in the branch past away. We had the opportunity to go to his funeral on Saturday. He was the only member of his family and the family asked if the church would hold the service. It was amazing! The talks that were given and just the feel of the Spirit, while being in that room full of non- members was priceless. There were many in that room that were deeply touched. One young gentleman came up to one of the members who gave a talk and said ''Thank you. This has been a wonderful service. Your words touched me''. Many other said that ''there is something special about this church''. and ''We can truly notice that our father/brother was loved in this church and had a connection with the members''.

The Spirit was definitely in that room! The Plan of Salvation was taught to at least 50 non-members of the church. Their hearts were comforted with the thought that there brother/father and friend passed away and returned to his family in the next world. I know without a doubt in my mind that this Church is true and that many were touched on that day! This plan that God has for us cannot fail! We all will see each other in the next life! More importantly we will see our Father in Heaven and Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and we will be able to physically embrace them! I invite everyone to learn of God's love for us and get a confirmation of His plan! Happy New Year! I hope everyone can continue to draw closer to our Father in Heaven and His Son this next year!

Med Venlig Hilsen,

Ældste Jantzen Read

Game night for New Years

And Classic Danish celbration of the New Year (no it doesn't have alcohol in it)

Chrstmas Lunches = Death

So not to freak anyone out but nobody actually died haha. But we have had a great week with the members and helping build their testimonies of the Saviour. We were able to Skype home to our families. This will definitely be a time that I will look back on. I had the opportunity to spend 10 minutes with each of my family members and talk with them. It is a moment that I will truly cherish and love. One of the greatest Christmas's that I have ever had in my entire life!

But the biggest highlight of the week was that on Friday we had two eating appointments with members (all 4 missionaries present). We were expecting a small meal for lunch. A classic Danish lunch. We arrive and the branch president's wife says ''Well I hope you are hungry.... I made you Jul resten!!.....(which means everything that is made for Christmas I have made for you....).'' She even made a schedule of what we would be eating. NO JOKE!!! There were 12 dishes!!!! ANd they weren't small portion of dishes. They were full-sized! DEATH I SAY haha. The first half was all fish dishes. And everybody knows how much I love fish >=P. Than we just ate and ate and ate!! Because it's Christmas season and Danish tradition to have long meal times especially during the holiday season, we had the permission to have long eating appointments. Well we started at 1pm and we finished eating at 5pm. We literally ate non-stop!!!! Had a few breaks but it was never going to be enough. Than we got driven with pain in our stomachs from stuffing ourselves, to our next eating appointment. All I was able to put down was a piece of meat, half a potatoe, some red cabbage, and rice pudding. IT TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO DO SO!!! I felt so bad for the members because they spent time making so much food. But we all couldn't do it haha. I came home and found out I gained 6lbs. from all the food!!!! And I still haven't lost any of it. haha. That is what the missionaries gift was in Skive for Christmas. DEATH!!! haha.

Well this is all the time that I have. I hope everyone has had the opportunity to come closer to the Saviour during this Christmas season. I Love you all and wish you et godt nyt år!!! ( A happy new year) Thanks for everything!

-Ældste Jantzen Read

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/2014-christmas-message-from-the-first-presidency?cid=HPTU122314583&lang=eng

Prayers Answered

Well I want everyone to know that your thoughts, fasting and prayers have been answered. This past Friday I got a call from my mission president and his wife concerning my leg. Turns out from the biking injury I have some damage to my leg. But I basically have a 50-60 year old sized cartilage in my knee. So I am waiting for the doctor in Denmark to give me more of an update and see what I can do. But have have permission to keep working and continue being a missionary for the next 6 months!!!! This has been a great week! Miracles do happen!

I have been trying to build my strength up with my leg. (Such as putting more pressure on it or using it more daily.) We have been trying to switch back over into things. But I would like everyone to know that what I said last week stands true today as it does for the eternities. The Savior LIVES! Please during this week think of the Savior. He is our master and captain. He loves us! He came to this Earth for us! It is through him that we can be saved! Please accept his invitation. ''Come and follow Me''. He wants us to come. He is knocking and we are the only ones who can let Him in. Glæde Jul! (Merry Christmas) And may you all feel of the Savior's love during this holiday season! Have a great week! Have a Merry Christmas and thanks again!

Med Kærlig Hilsen,

Ældste Jantzen Read

''For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish but have everlasting life.'' John 3:16

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

A man who got baptized in Aalborg this past week! The Church is True!!

Rumors about my stupid knee

Well it seems like the Rumors about me have been spreading lately haha. There has been quite a few people ask me about it, but I would like to set a few things straight.

Just over a year ago I had a bike accident. The result seemed at the time that it would fix itself. But randomly the past month, my leg has been getting sharp pains around the spot where I got injured the most during the bike accident. I recently, this past week, had an MRI scan for my leg. If it turns out that I will need excessive surgery than I would have to come home from my mission and be released as a missionary, because the recovery process could take between 6-8 weeks. I am currently waiting for the results from my doctor.

As the Lord has said it ''Your days are be numbered''. I want everyone to know that if I were to come home early from my mission than I will not regret anything that has happened. I know without a doubt in my mind that if the Lord needs me home right now it is for a reason. I have gotten to know my Savior so much on my mission! I believe and trust Him! I know that He lives! I know that He suffered for us. The Atonement (suffer of Christ for us) covers so many levels in life. I have tasted and gotten to know more of the Atonement in the past 18 months, than any other point in my life. I know that He has risen from the dead! And I know that because of Him we all can be like him daily and that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. And it is BECAUSE OF HIM! He is our Captain, our Master, our Shepard. He beckons and desires us, with all his might, ''Come and Follow Me!'' He loves each and everyone of you. There is no trial that we cannot handle in this life. I have a firm testimony of that. Trust him!

I thank you all for your thoughts, love and prayers on my behalf. But when all is said in done, Let the Lord's will be done. I have learned, especially on my mission that the Lord sometimes gives us trials because it teaches us to be humble and that we have to change daily so that we can become more like Him and therefore be the people the Lord wants us to be when we return and meet Him and our Father in Heaven. This is His Church. I invite you all with the best sound of a trump that this email can provide! During this Christmas Season: Discover the Gift, Embrace the Gift and Share the Gift with everyone!!! His fruit is sweet and precious come and find out for yourselves! He truly is the Gift of Christmas! I know this to be true! Have a wonderful week! Love you all and wish you all a Glæde Jul!

Med Kærlig Hilsen,

Ældste Jantzen Read

He is the Gift

It's been an interesting week. Not much to write on haha. Me and Elder Warner went on exchanges to Randers this past week. Me and another Elder baked cookies all day long! We stayed in for a couple of reason and so that the other 6 elders could go outside and sing carols and than give cookies to members, investigators and peole on the street. Than come back and grab some more cookies. It is safe to say that we made a ton of cookies.

Than we had a crazy time at Zone conference and had a huge presentation about how we will be trying to share #ShareTheGIFT with everyone! This is a wonderful video and it truly delivers the message of Christmas to Everyone! I invite everyone to watch it and than share with other on Facebook Twitter email the whole nine yards!!!! It truly shows and tells about our relationship with our loving heavenly Father!!!

christmas.mormon.org

Than we were shocked to find out that the Assistants pulled a fast one on us. They started to play the Restoration movie (because we watch a movie every year at Christmas). Everyone one was disappointed that we were watching a movie that we have seen a ton on our missions haha. But than they quickly put in the movie Frozen! Everyone was freaking out haha. That was a great movie! But safe to say Don't get married after meeting someone in the same day! haha. But other than that What a wonderful message! ''No great love is than this, that a man layeth down his life for his friends''. I caught some symbolism in that. I hope you all have a great week! And WATCH AND SHARE the He is the Gift Video with everyone! Have a good one.

Ældste Jantzen Read

Best Milk in Denmark

Ok this has been an interesting week. So we came back from Randers after district meeting, we quickly dropped off our stuff and did a drop by. Oh by the way this is on THANKSGIVING!!! After the drop by we noticed that there was music and a parade going on, Santa up front, a band behind with a ton of people with torches behind the band. What is going on?!?!?. We found out that they were lighting the Christmas tree in the town square and so we contacted a few people and practically rushed back home. We both looked at each other and figured all of Viborg was on the gågade anyways and that any other plans we had were probably not the most effective thing to do. So we have the opportuntiy why not take it? We grabbed all the copies of the Book of Mormon that we had in the apartment (8), all our mormon.org cards (about 100), 50 Faith in Christ cards and 2 Joy to the world DVD's. After we wrapped everything up and wrote Glæde Jul on them we went out on the gågade. And after two hours we gave out everything! There were many times were people contact Elder Warner and I because they really wanted a book, they were really interested or we evidently contacted them on the street in the past. We were so happy with what happened! Downside was that we ran out of materials. It's a good thing we have Zone Conference this next week. It was amazing to see the hand of the Lord as we went out and contacted people.

And we had a fun time going out to a place called Thise. Apparently the best made milk in Denmark comes from this city. It was sad to see the store closed. But we got to go to another tree lighting and we sang, missionaries. It was a lot of fun and we had a great time talking to people about the church! Christmas traditions are coming out! We are so happy that we are going to be skyping home soon and that Christmas is right around the corner. I hope you all have a great week! Glæde JUL!!!

Hey you all Check out this video!!!!

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

Ældste Jantzen Read

Christmas Tree lighting

And Thank the world for awesome parents!!!! We also got BEEF JERKEY it's a very early Merry Christmas!!