"You were born in Sweden? Why were your parents there?"

First Version
"You were born in Sweden? Why were your parents there?

Kairos/Audience: This story is told pretty much every time I am introduced to someone and they ask me where I am from.

I was born and raised in Malmo, Sweden by an American dad and Armenian mom. There is kind of a disconnect I get it.

My great grandmother on my mom's side lived in Turkey in 1915 when the Armenian genocide occurred. Her family was killed, which left her alone at a very young age. She was sent to an orphanage in Iraq and was raised there. Both my grandparents were born, raised, met, and were married in Iraq. A few years before my mom was born my grandfather took a job in Sweden. This is the connection to Sweden.

My dad was a Mormon boy that came from a family of ten kids. He was born and raised on a farm in Lehi, UT. He was called to serve his mission in Littlerock, Arkansas.

At the age of 17, my mom, being the only convert to the church in her family, went to Arkansas as a foreign exchange student. They only met a few times and never were in the same area, but as my dad wrote in his journal, the first time he saw my mom he wrote, "that is supposed to be my wife." He was such a disobedient missionary.... Haha but not really.

He finished his mission and went home to Utah, while my mother finished the school year and returned home to Sweden.

Not long after my mom returned to Sweden her parents sent her to Syria to be married. She was betrothed to a man named Rafi, but she was not too happy about it. A week before the wedding she broke it off, because he was not willing to share her beliefs, and the first thing she though of was what happened to Elder Fox.

She contacted my dad's mission, and miraculously was able to get a hold of his number. Called him from Sweden out of nowhere. He had a girlfriend at the time, but he talked to her, and the day after that call, he broke up with his girlfriend.

My parents dated over the phone for about two and a half months, and then got engaged over the phone never having been in person. My mom flew to Utah, and they were sealed in the temple. Three months later, after my dad finished his degree, my mom wanted to move to Sweden, and my dad was crazy enough to go along.

That is how I ended up in Sweden.


Second Version
The tale of a Mormon farm boy, and a multi-cultured foreigner.

Kairos/ Audience: This is more for someone analyzing relationship, and human behavior with big decisions.

They were both raised by caring parents. One from a wealthy home, and the other from humble circumstances. Both developed a love for God. [Supernatural]. One alone in beliefs, and the other encouraged. Both traveled to Arkansas. One to see the world, and the other toEllipsis] [Alliteration] [Similarity/Difference].
serve it. [

The likelihood of crossing paths was undoubtedly like finding a pearl in the sea. [Simile]. Were it not for that pearl being found, I would not have come to existence. When they met there was no possible way for them to be together, forbidden it was for him. [Anastrophe], and she was still so young. After some time though they were not acquainted well, and they parted ways. She left to return home crossing a small pond [Litotes] and quickly forgetting what had happened.

She was sent to a distant land full of uncertainty, while he returned home to his humble parents. Thousands of miles apart how could they end up together. Betrothed to another there was no way she could be with the farm boy, but love has no bounds. Out of a burning desire to accomplish what seemed impossible, she reached over the thousands of miles of water to contact him [Hyperbole]. He answered her call, and with the whole world against them they were united. [The Possible and Impossible].

We can see that what your mind is set on, you can accomplish. No matter the distance, or the height of the challenge if it is meant to be it will happen. [Cause and Effect]