Syster Randall: Week 3--Elder Scott & TRC

Elder Richard G. Scott spoke at the devotional this week, and Krystina really enjoyed it. He talked a lot about the sister missionaries, the number of which has increased exponentially since the "missionary age" announcement. At the end of his remarks, he said he felt impressed to leave the missionaries with an apostolic blessing that those who were learning a language would not only learn it but would master it, and that each of them were called to succeed, not to fail. The closing hymn was sung and the person assigned to give the closing prayer came up to do so, but Elder Scott stopped her and added, "I feel impressed to remind you that God knows us and he will fit the task to our capabilities, and it will teach us things we did not know about ourselves." What great encouragement for those missionaries, who are probably experiencing more growing and stretching than ever before. Krystina loved it!

Krystina's excitement and enthusiasm to be serving a mission continues to grow. She loves the language, loves the teaching and learning experiences, and loves her district and teachers.

She had her first experience in the TRC (Training Resource Center) where she gets to teach a message to Swedish-speakers and receive feedback from them. Her grasp on the language and teaching concepts seems to be improving also. Initially when teaching the "investigators," Krystina would write the lesson in English and then translate it into Swedish and use it while teaching. Last week she was able to teach using just some bullet points written in English. This week she only wrote an outline during her personal study and then gone in to teach using just her scriptures without any notes or translations! She says it is a struggle sometimes, but doesn't find it difficult to fill the 20-30 minute time frame.

Krystina has made reference to the "Second Harvest" of Sweden a few times. I believe the idea comes from the dedicatory/re-dedicatory prayer for missionary work in Sweden, given by President Monson. There was a time when missionary work in Sweden was very difficult and there was not much trust between the Swedish members and the missionaries, but things have started to improve. Her MTC teachers tell the missionaries that they worked to prepare Sweden for the "Second Harvest" and that this new wave of missionaries will get to participate in that harvest. Krystina cannot wait to get to Sweden to work, serve, and love the people there.