#14 Another amazing week in Asker!

Hei Hei Alle Sammen!  

One day I will be coming up with some rocking way to start my e-mail but for right now I’m  just going to start of the same...I'm happy, happy, happy and it's just another wonderful amazing week in the mission field!  The leaves are changing colors and since Asker is basically in the woods, then it's super pretty and it's starting to get colder! 

Monday

So after e-mailing last week we just went to a few stores since we all needed things. Then later when P-Day ended  we went and visited this awesome lady. I love going to visit her!  She started out our appointment with talking about Michael Jackson and singing some of the songs for us which was so fun for her! Then afterwards, we read the first few chapters in Moroni in English with her and then talked a little bit about the sacrament and what it means to her which was so good! 

Tuesday

So this really has nothing to do with anything but guess what!? I actually had milk today (she absolutely hates milk:))...I chugged it so I didn't have to taste much of it but indeed I had milk!  So you guys can all be proud!  Aside from that, we went and had an appointment with one of our new investigators. They are originally from Burma but have lived in Norway for about 4 years…and they are the nicest people ever!! We decided to introduce the Book of Mormon and just talk about the pictures that are at the beginning of the book, and then we talked about Joseph Smith and the First Vision...I was reciting the First Vision in Joseph Smith's own words and the Spirit was so strong and then their phone rang!  It's like you can never tell the story of Joseph Smith without being  interrupted!  But the lesson went really really well! We have to explain everything very simply because they're still trying to get a grasp on all the Norwegian but they are awesome!!!  Then later  we went to an investigator’s house. I love going to her house and visit!  She had wondered about why the leaders in the church (Prophet, Bishop, etc.) were always male, so we talked about the priesthood and the different roles that men and women in the church have.  It was a really really good lesson and as soon as we explained it she accepted it!  She literally just soaks up all the information we give her like a sponge and it's phenomenal to see someone have such a great desire to learn!  After her lesson we watched the Legacy!

Wednesday

We had District Meeting and talked about charity and loving those we teach and those we serve with, and how to resolve our investigators concerns.  We then did role plays to practice what we learned, which is always good. Later we went to another investigator’s house! We did the same thing with him that we did with the couple…..we talked about the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon and then talked about Joseph Smith...that lesson also went incredibly well!  He had been asking questions and was so open to everything we were teaching him!  So we were blessed with another great lesson!  Then we went and had another lesson with another new investigator, the one we met at the hockey game!  We did yet again the same thing...pictures in the Book of Mormon and he was sharing experiences and sharing his thoughts and opinions and it was great!  We even taught him how to pray and he said the closing prayer which was great!  After that we went to a members house for our dinner appointment, and she is just the sweetest old lady!  She opened the door and says, "Jentene minne!"(my girls!) and she is just like our grandma!  She is one of the greatest examples of what it means to have charity and to truly "love your neighbor as yourself" She told us that she is always praying for opportunities to be put in paths so that she can serve!  How incredible is that!? Then after that we went and picked up the Kristansand sisters (one of them  went to Houston with me) who came and stayed with us because we had First Transfer Training on Thursday and Friday! 

Thursday

First day of First Transfer Training!  We drove to the President's house and he drove us 5 sisters down to Oslo to the mission office where we would have it!  We had breakout sessions about how we're adjusting to missionary life and then about how we can improve our studies.  Then we had other breakout sessions about how to improve our finding skills and the AP's  did a role play for us about what not to do when contacting on the street and we were dying of laughter!  Then we went back to the mission home and watched The Best 2 Years which is even more hilarious when you are a missionary! My companion and I literally quote it on a daily basis so we were laughing so hard we couldn't even breathe!  

Friday

Today was the second day of First Transfer Training and it was just at the mission home! We had break out sessions about asking questions, using the scriptures and how to Begin Teaching (section in Preach My Gospel) How to use the scriptures was my favorite!  One of the elders was telling us a story about how he had an older companion, that every time their investigator had a concern,  his companion would always turn to the scriptures and have  the investigator find the answer on their own.  That's what I usually do… I try to discuss it, when in all reality I could be using a much more helpful source, a source that I can effectively use and the investigator can find the answer on their own, which is what is going to give them that testimony of the scriptures and deepen their own conversion.  I'm already trying to apply it in my teaching along with the other things that I’ve learned… although it won't all come overnight I know that as I keep working at it that I will be able to become a better teacher! Then we finished up by talking about what it means to be a successful missionary which was also incredibly good!  We also sang our "Savior Redeemer" song for the missionaries who were at First Transfer Training which was a little bit of a struggle because I had a cold, but all is well! Later we practiced the songs that we would be singing in church and practiced them in the evening with the other Elders.

Saturday

Today we played soccer again...and guess what!?  I scored 2 goals...not 1...but 2!!!  Then after that we had our lesson with one of our investigator and talked about Baptisms for the Dead, which is what he had asked specifically about!  So we talked a little bit about the Plan of Salvation first because that's really the whole reason why we do it, so we started there and showed him pictures of the open house of the temple so he could see the baptismal font which really helped him!  Then we talked about family history and cleared up his questions and he said that he would need to think about it and try to understand it a little bit better but we started him on that path and he says that he feels a little bit more comfortable with it which is great!  Then we did weekly planning and had dinner with our District and practiced our many songs that we had to sing on Sunday!

Sunday

So today we had to sing in Sacrament Meeting, Relief Society and to practice for the Stake Choir!  But let me rewind a little.. first of we had moves call this morning and one of my companions (Her best friend from EFY) is leaving on Wednesday and going to Moss!  She is super sad to be leaving Asker but she is excited for Moss and we will be able to see her for conferences and such so that will be fun!  I am still in Asker and will be for the next 6 weeks, but we are moving apartments at some point in October, but we don't know for sure when yet!   Anyway..then we went to church and our two investigators came for the first time!!  We sang the EFY Medley in English and Norwegian in Sacrament meeting with our entire district and we had people crying again!  Then we sang " I love to See the Temple" in Relief Society with our District for the lesson which was also really good!  Then we practiced the songs for the Stake Choir after church!  I don't think I've ever sang this much in my life...well unless it's to the radio in the car...but no one is listening to me at that point. After church we had a dinner appointment and then went this wonderful women’s house with all the Elders, and we shared a Mormon Message with her and her daughter. Her daughter asked so many good questions and although they are bold sometimes, she is always respecting what we teach and always thinks that it's good what we are doing and has never met happier people than Mormons, so it was a good discussion! 

Today

Anyway..today we did the usual and now I'm here e-mailing!  We are supposed to be playing indoor hockey with our District since it's my companion’s last P-Day… oh and the AP's are moving too because they are going to Oslo... So we went from 7 to 4 missionaries!  So small!  It's the smallest District in the mission!  

But anyway...I get to watch Conference and the Women's session on Saturday and Sunday and I am SO EXCITED!!! I'm so incredibly Happy here and loving every second!!!  

Love you all lots and miss you all tons! Thank you for all the love and support I get from your e-mails and letters! That means more to me than you’ll ever know!



Kylee and her district visiting Oslo and the mission home for First Transfer Training