Mission Theme

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

Monday, January 25, 2016

week 64

We basically didn't have our car for the whole week. There was body work that needed to get done that previous missionaries failed to do. So we didn't have our car from Monday to Friday and then with the snow storm, our car was grounded for most of the weekend. Due to our area, we pretty much had to stay in Woodstown the whole time. It is a three hour walk to the closest town. We did do the walk because we wanted to work in that town, and we couldn't get a ride there. After that walk we decided not to do it again because it took so much time. Now that there is snow on the ground, we will be having to walk through the snow.

We knew that the storm was coming about a week in advance, but we didn't know how bad it was going to be. The weather app we use does not give us specifics of what will be happening, only the chances of it. We were told on Thursday how bad it was going to be by President Anderson. The cars were grounded from about six in the evening on Friday until two or three on Sunday afternoon. We didn't get much direction on how to prepare, but as a missionary we are told to be prepared in case we are in an emergency situation. Luckily we didn't lose power during the storm, so the heat stayed on and we didn't freeze. I haven't been told an official number, but from what I have seen, I think we have gotten about two feet of snow. From walking around, it seems like they were trying to keep the main roads clear throughout the storm. The bishop thought it would still be good if he cancelled church yesterday because the residential streets were not being plowed as much if at all during the storm. There wasn't much to do during the storm other then walk around Woodstown helping people shovel their walks and drive ways during the storm so they wouldn't have as much to shovel after the storm. I am hoping that this is the first and only major snow storm this winter. Based on last year, things will start warming up around mid-March and most of the snow will be gone by then. I am looking forward to April and May when I don’t have to worry about the cold any more.

On Wednesday, there was a worldwide broadcast for missionaries that focused on teaching us that as missionaries; the main responsibility is to teach repentance and to baptize converts. We can do other things, but if we are not focused on what we are called to do, then we could be using our time better.

Elder Bjerregaard
#ASaviorIsBorn

Monday, January 18, 2016

week 63

This has been an interesting week. Elder Lewis had to go to a district leader training on Friday, so he wasn't in the area. It was easier for me to go to the other district leader’s area because they had more lessons and they would have a harder time rescheduling their lessons. The strange part is the the other area is Atlantic City, so I pretty much went back to my old area for the day. It was weird to be there after being transferred to Woodstown because I had just come from that area.

We are not going to have the car until at least Wednesday because it needs to get some body work for a dent in the door and some chipped paint. That basically means if we want to work in another town, that is not Woodstown, then we will need to get a member to take us. The nearest town is about five miles away, and it just not effective to walk there.

Elder Lewis and I were asked to bear our testimonies on Sunday because they didn't have a third speaker. Elder Lewis give a testimony on service, and I gave mine on the Book of Mormon. The other talks were on tithing so our testimonies had very little to do with what the assigned speakers had. We felt that the ward needed to hear our testimonies.

Elder Bjerregaard
#ASaviorIsBorn

Monday, January 11, 2016

week 62

My new companion is Elder Lewis. He been out on his mission a little longer then I have. He is originally from Tucson, AZ and has been in Woodstown for about a month and a half.

In Sunday school yesterday, we were discussing the first few chapters of 1 Nephi. One thing that came into my mind is that we can go off of someone else's testimony for a while, but at some point we need to gain our own testimony of the gospel for ourselves. Nephi originally followed his father, Lehi, because he was his father. However, he desired to learn for himself if Lehi was inspired of the Lord to flee Jerusalem, and the Spirit confirmed to him that Lehi was commanded to flee.

We do a lot of volunteering in Woodstown. Three days a week we volunteer at various places. It is good to help the community that I am serving in. The service helps us to learn the area better and people start to learn who we are. That makes them are more open to us when we talk to them later on the street or on their doorsteps. It is also good because we believe "that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17).

Elder Bjerregaard
#ASaviorIsBorn

Monday, January 4, 2016

Week 61

I hope that everyone's New Year has gone well for them so far. A change that is happening to me right at the start of the New Year is that I'm getting transferred. I have been in Linwood for little less than three months and it is already time for me to go. Transfers are being done differently this year, so I already know where I am going. I am leaving Linwood to go to Woodstown, NJ. I am sad to leave Linwood because I have made great friends while I have been here.

This week has been mostly spent trying to find people, and we did run across someone who was interested. His name is Rick. We were looking for another person that Elder Riley and I talked to sometime in October or November, but he wasn't home. Rick was standing outside of his car just about to leave. We stopped him and asked if he knew anyone who would like and need a message about Jesus Christ. He told us that he used to meet with missionaries and is more than willing to meet with us again.

During Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday, a non-member got up and gave his testimony about how he feels when he comes to church. At first, it was just to support his member girlfriend, but now he comes because he likes the way he feels. He currently can't be baptized because of his chosen profession, but someday I feel like he will join the Church when he is ready.

Elder Bjerregaard
#ASaviorIsBorn