Mission Theme

Mission Theme for 2015 & 2016--Learn it, Live it, Share it

Monday, October 26, 2015

Week 51

This is my second week in Linwood. Diamond, who was baptized last Sunday, was confirmed yesterday and received the Aaronic Priesthood. Even though I had no part in teaching him or performing any of the ordinances, I still found joy proceedings. He is taking the steps needed for him to be able to return to Heavenly Father. It also reminded me of when I was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood when I was twelve years old.

Tuesday the mission went up to the Priesthood Restoration Site where the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored and conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by angelic ministry. It is by these Priesthoods that the life saving ordinances are performed under the authority of someone being commissioned of Jesus Christ to perform them. It was a spiritual experience because I felt a confirmation that Joseph Smith did translate the Golden Plates by the power of God and that the Church is the Lord’s kingdom preparatory to His Second Coming.

Elder Bjerregaard
#BecauseHeLives


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Week 50

P-day was shortened yesterday, and we really needed to clean and do some shopping. I didn't have time to email. The reason why p-day was shortened is because my zone is going up to the Priesthood Restoration Site. It was going to replace all of p day but they decided to give us until 2 yesterday to get the most important things done. That did not include emailing because I was able to do that today (Tuesday). Mom here-We are hoping that he will give us some information when he emails us on Monday.

As it turned out, I doubled into another area this time making twice in a row. This time though, I did not stay with Elder Harl. My new companion is Elder Riley, one of my zone leaders when I was in Sewell. Honestly, the first few days it felt like I was just on an extended exchange because he was my zone leader at one point. I am loving my new area so far. It is almost the complete opposite of Center City, PA.

I got transferred to Linwood, NJ where my trainer just served. Mom here--He is referring to Elder Thomas who trained him when he arrived in the field. It turned out that my first baptism was someone who was ready to be baptized the following Sunday. Elder Thomas and Elder Bowman, the elders who were just in Linwood before us, set everything up for us so we just had to be there for the baptismal interview and for the baptism itself. The person who got baptized was Diamond, and he was introduced to the church by his girlfriend. He was investigating on and off for about a year before he got baptized.

The biggest miracle this week happened on Sunday. It was getting late into the evening and we were not having any luck finding people. It was almost an hour or so before we had to get back to the apartment. To give us a spiritual boost and to ask for help, we said a prayer. The very next door we knocked on we met Tom. At first he was not to interested in learning more about the church, but while we were talking we were able to learn about him. We then used the story about the conversion of Alma the Younger to help him understand that the power of the Atonement is within reach for all.

It is strange to think that Julian is going to be leaving in a week or so now. That also means that I am nearly a year out. I really don't know where the time is going.

I hope you all are enjoying the weather because it has been really cold these past couple of days.

Elder Bjerregaard
#BecauseHeLives

Monday, October 12, 2015

Week 49

It turns out that my time in Philadelphia was meant to be a short one because I am being transferred tomorrow. I don't know where the time went, but it has gone quickly. Time seems to be just flying by.

Again this week was mostly finding without any success. It can be a frustrating or a humbling experience depending on if you view the cup as half empty or half full. This area might have been my refiner's fire for me on my mission. I have seen many miracles happen during my time here, but at the same time I have not seen any fruit for all the effort I put into finding people. I hope I can take what I learned here and apply it to my future area(s) and then to my life after my mission.

It looks like the Russell's are going though happy and sad times all at the same time. I will remember them in my prayers.

Elder Bjerregaard
#BecauseHeLives


Mom here- In the picture below, Elder Andrus makes Michael look really small. I love it! :-)

  
Elder Bjerregaard and Elder Andrus
The Philadelphia Temple

Monday, October 5, 2015

Week 48

It was a good wet week. It was cold and raining for the most of it.

We had zone conference this week that was really good. It was focused on the gathering of scattered Israel. President Anderson was asking us to study it for the past two or three weeks. It was also really nice because it was a great way to get us into the mind set for General Conference this weekend.

It was a really good General Conference was well. Three new Apostles of the Lord were "called" and, in conference, were sustained by the church membership. It is amazing to think about how much thought and prayer goes into each of their calls. I am sure that they are going to perform wonderfully in their new and important positions as prophets, seers, and revelators.

In my spare time on P-Days I have been doing a little family history myself. I found two new people, a couple, for the Snow line (my great, great, great, great, great grandparents). I have already reserved them for the temple ordinances. I am thinking about taking my great, great, great, great, great grandfather’s name for endowments at the end of my mission. That would mean that I would need to find someone to do the preceding ordinances before then.

Elder Bjerregaard
#BecauseHeLives