Exciting day!

As we received a new president, there began to be some changes.... The biggest one occurring yesterday as we were waiting for a bus. We were informed that president decided that greenies need to be in their areas sooner and so he moved transfers a day forward, and we have p-day today! We had a pretty full day planned and now it is p-day too!

We were also told that we would still be getting our transfer call this morning so last night I was eating my dinner and reading in Jesus the Christ, when the phone started ringing. It was about 10:10 so I thought it would be another missionary, so I answered it. I was surprised to hear that it was President Newell. He said hi and asked if we could put the phone on speaker, which I did. Then he proceeded to give us our new areas! I am going to Jonkoping! I am in the same district and now a lot closer to Goteborg and I have a much larger ward, it is actually a ward now! I am super excited, plus, I get to be with Elder Wood who is awesome!!!! Plus he is a good cook and likes to cook! I might have to fight for the kitchen! Anyways... long story short, a lot is changing with the new president, transfers were completely unpredictable, both time of transfer as well as where everyone would be going! It was an exciting day!

So, not too much has been going on in Karlstad, we talk to people on the streets, ... knock doors, eat kebab...talked to the kebab restaurant manager, he was really nice, and we had a good conversation on Christ. He is Muslim, but not really (he likes to drink which Islam does not allow). We contacted a couple less-active families and taught them, got an investigator to church on Sunday, though she has been difficult to meet with since, even though she said she has lots of questions..... Oh, four women visited our branch Sunday too! They came from Utah, and were doing some genealogy and other sightseeing. I got to translate for the, which was fun, though the first testimony I got to translate was that of one of our visiting Norwegians! So, I got to translate from Norwegian to English, which was a little challenging, but I did pretty well for a first time translating!

Yesterday, July 4th, we had a district conference call to listen to the national anthem and pledge allegiance to the flag. It was a lot of fun. My companion also decided to have a BBQ today and started to invite people, we will see what happens (there are 2 people for sure coming....maybe) It will be exciting, if it fails, oh well, 4th of July one day late and some grilled meat!

Now, since we were going to have p-day tomorrow, I have to go... we have teaches set up today! I love you all, hope that everything is going well at home. I am having the best time. I love my mission, I love the Swedish people, and I love my companions. Overall, I don't think I would mind serving a couple of these! The Lord continues to teach me and to shape me, I am learning more every single day, and the more I learn the more I try, the better I am able to understand how to do this work, though I still need to learn so much more! It is amazing to see how the gospel does touch people, but sad when they reject it. It seems so obvious and so clear, but still it goes unwanted. I pray that I am able to become the Lord's tool, that in his hands I might be useful in helping these my Brothers and Sisters open their eyes, to see! I love the gospel and am so excited to see what the Lord has planned for this next phase in my mission!

I love you all!
Aldste Maxwell