As I reported lasted week, Elder Roberts and I are going to stay together for the remainder of our missions. It is odd that we are going to finish together; normally they don't let missionaries do that. Because we are both going home at the end of the transfer, they will have to double in new missionaries to fill our spots. It is weird that I am on my last six (new five) weeks of my mission. I definitely have mixed feelings about it. I don't want to go home because I am enjoying my mission, but I am also looking forward to being home for the holiday season.
Jing and Yao are making great progress. They were able to come see the cultural celebration and they enjoyed it. The member we normally take with us has not able to come the past couple of times, but he told us that he sees a change for the better in them. They are starting to act on the things that we teach them on faith. This is instead of asking the reasoning behind it and trying to understand the why. I really have high hopes for them.
Elder Bjerregaard
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Week 98
The biggest news from this week was that the Philadelphia Pennsylvania temple was dedicated yesterday. It was a special event for everyone in Pennsylvania in general because it is the first temple in the state, but specifically for people in Philadelphia because that is where the temple is. It was a wonderful dedication. We were able to attend all three sessions. The first one was nice because of the cornerstone ceremony, but my favorite was the last one because of the talks that Elder Christofferson and President Eyring gave. I am excited to be able to attend this new temple and also to see what blessings it will bring to this temple district.
The night before the dedication, the youth put on a cultural celebration. For this celebration, they recounted the history of Pennsylvania, starting with William Penn and ending with Joseph Smith, featuring George Washington, Betsy Ross and the singing of the Constitution/Declaration of Independence (not sure which). What was also neat was when the camera showed where President Eyring was sitting, we were able to see President Anderson, my previous mission president. Did you know that President Eyring lived in NJ but had to come to Philadelphia to be baptized when he was eight?
Elder Roberts and I are going to finish our missions together. That is exciting because we were in the same zone at the MTC. As far as we know, we will not be made a trio. That will make the logistics easier for the assistants at the end of October. They won’t have to worry about where they are going to put the other missionary for the day while his companions are in Philadelphia for their last p-day.
Elder Bjerregaard
The night before the dedication, the youth put on a cultural celebration. For this celebration, they recounted the history of Pennsylvania, starting with William Penn and ending with Joseph Smith, featuring George Washington, Betsy Ross and the singing of the Constitution/Declaration of Independence (not sure which). What was also neat was when the camera showed where President Eyring was sitting, we were able to see President Anderson, my previous mission president. Did you know that President Eyring lived in NJ but had to come to Philadelphia to be baptized when he was eight?
Elder Roberts and I are going to finish our missions together. That is exciting because we were in the same zone at the MTC. As far as we know, we will not be made a trio. That will make the logistics easier for the assistants at the end of October. They won’t have to worry about where they are going to put the other missionary for the day while his companions are in Philadelphia for their last p-day.
Elder Bjerregaard
Monday, September 12, 2016
week 97
It looks like the heat finally decided to leave for this coming week. We had mid 80's to low 90's for last week, but we should be in the low 80's this week. Lower temperatures make working easier, at least more enjoyable. When you have higher temperatures and humidity and you wipe away sweat, it comes back right away. There is no hope to stay dry. When you don't sweat so much, you can wipe it away and stay dry longer.
We tried to do some work with the students at Kutztown University. It is interesting because we were hoping that they would be more open than they were. A common response we got is that they were raised in religious homes, but they really don't practice anymore for one reason or another. What really makes it interesting is they are part of my generation. It shows how at least some of my peers are edging away from what their parents taught them.
Elder Bjerregaard
We tried to do some work with the students at Kutztown University. It is interesting because we were hoping that they would be more open than they were. A common response we got is that they were raised in religious homes, but they really don't practice anymore for one reason or another. What really makes it interesting is they are part of my generation. It shows how at least some of my peers are edging away from what their parents taught them.
Elder Bjerregaard
Monday, September 5, 2016
week 96
We have another week, another chance to help you check in on my miracles.
The first one that I would like to recount happened on Saturday. We were walking around Macungie (east of Kutztown) trying to find people to teach. We were about a mile away from our car when we decided to make our way back. When we walked past a popular frozen treat place on the other side of the street, a woman asked if we would like some and we said yes. We didn't recognize her, and because we were close to our area boarder we assumed that it was a member from another ward. After we ordered, we asked her if she was a member and she said no, but she wanted to buy us something because she recognized that we were trying to spread the gospel and wanted to help us. In return for her act of kindness, we invited her to the temple open house even though there is less than a week left. I don't know what will come of that invitation, but I know that she will be blessed because Jesus taught "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)
Another miracle happened yesterday. Yao texted during the week saying that they were not able to meet with us this week and probably will not be able to come to church Sunday. Of course Elder Roberts and I were disappointed about that, but we didn't let that get us down. When we were greeting people who were coming into church on Sunday, we got a text saying that she was in town and she was coming to church. Unfortunately Jing was unable to come, but we were excited that at least Yao was able to come.
Elder Bjerregaard
The first one that I would like to recount happened on Saturday. We were walking around Macungie (east of Kutztown) trying to find people to teach. We were about a mile away from our car when we decided to make our way back. When we walked past a popular frozen treat place on the other side of the street, a woman asked if we would like some and we said yes. We didn't recognize her, and because we were close to our area boarder we assumed that it was a member from another ward. After we ordered, we asked her if she was a member and she said no, but she wanted to buy us something because she recognized that we were trying to spread the gospel and wanted to help us. In return for her act of kindness, we invited her to the temple open house even though there is less than a week left. I don't know what will come of that invitation, but I know that she will be blessed because Jesus taught "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)
Another miracle happened yesterday. Yao texted during the week saying that they were not able to meet with us this week and probably will not be able to come to church Sunday. Of course Elder Roberts and I were disappointed about that, but we didn't let that get us down. When we were greeting people who were coming into church on Sunday, we got a text saying that she was in town and she was coming to church. Unfortunately Jing was unable to come, but we were excited that at least Yao was able to come.
Elder Bjerregaard
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