#77 Greetings from Norway...for the very last time:(

HEI HEI FRA NORGE!  For the very last time...:( 

I will give you a run down of the week for starters! 

Thursday

Today we did weekly planning and then we had an appointment with a lady who lives way out in the woods and it takes 2 hours to drive there.... and so we started driving and I was calling potentials in the car and then we picked up a member that we were taking on the teach. We continued to drive to this lady's house and then good thing Sister Madsen was driving slow because there was a tree that had fallen over the road and was hanging on electric lines!! So we ended up not being able to meet with her because there was a tree in the way. We went back to the members house and she made us a quick little dinner before we drove home!

Friday

Today we started the day out contacting and gave out a Book of Mormon to the second lady that we talked to! We decided to go out and contact a lot of potentials.... so we had written down their addresses previously and then we went out and knocked on their doors.... and if they weren't home then we would just bank the surrounding area.  We didn't have much success but there were hyggelig people who were having nice conversations with us.  There was one lady that wasn't interested and took a card and then said, "It's good to know that there are people like you in the world" and then another guy came up to us and asked us if we were there to bring him the cat haha! Nope, just books! We caught a train to go and visit Mommo and Besse and that was super fun being in Drammen one last time before I leave!  We had great food and Christmas cookies!!  It was a super koselig visit!

Saturday

Today we went out contacting over by the mall because we figured that there were lots of people that were out Christmas shopping and we had so many hyggelig conversations.  There was one guy that stopped us and said, "you guys look so happy and when you look so happy then one must stop them" and then come to find out it was a Jehovah Witness that decided that he wanted to preach to us and so we were exchanging "budskaps" haha!  It was funny!  Then we went and visited our investigator and we had found out that one of the problems with her understanding the gospel was understanding the priesthood.  So that's what we taught about and it cleared up soo many misunderstandings!  It was the best lesson we've had and the Spirit was so strong in the lesson!  She said that she had seen fremskritt (progress) in herself and that was incredible!  She is making progress!  Then we had a Christmas dinner with an older lady in the ward and some of her family and the elders!  It was the funniest dinner appointment! She had us sing Christmas songs and she was sharing story after story!  But she is the sweetest old lady and we had so much fun!  Then we went banking and we got an appointment for next week because he said that we could come back so that was exciting!

Sunday

Today I actually gave a talk about how the Holy Ghost reminds us about Christ and it's crazy to think how comfortable I am giving talks now, I barely had to even look at my paper and I just thought of things on the spot that I wanted to add!  I could not do that before my mission, granted it's in Norwegian and I am so much more comfortable when it comes to gospel lingo in Norwegian now!  But it was funny because everyone was coming up to me after talking about how great my grammar and pronunciation was haha!  Then we had dinner and studies and then went and visited a less active and talked to them about the commandments and how God gives them to us because he loves us.  Then we had more studies!

Today

Today we are going ice skating in Oslo and just walking around some shops!  

Well, this is it. It's been an emotional roller coaster these past couple weeks knowing that my time is ticking down.  These were definitely the fastest 18 months of my life, the best 18 months of my life, the happiest 18 months of my life, the most meaningful 18 months of my life and 18 months of my life that will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am so incredibly grateful that Heavenly Father knew that this mission needed to be a part of my life.  Everything that I am today I owe to my mission.  I have learned countless lessons on my mission, I have learned what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I have felt indescribable joy, I have jumped up and down because an investigator is attending church, I have never prayed more fervently, I have never had an hour of scripture study go by so fast, I have been brought to tears by my own imperfections, I have reached out of my comfort zone, I have stopped thousands of people, I've handed out multiple Books of Mormon, I have given thousands of mormon.org cards, I have faced rejection, I have been ridiculed, I have felt the love of God so strong that it is almost tangible, I have never before felt such indescribable joy.  But most importantly, my testimony has become stronger than it has ever been.  I know without a doubt in my mind that this church is true.  I know that we have a Heavenly Father, who loves us with an unconditional love and that He truly knows each one of us individually.  He has a plan for each one of us, He knows best and that we simply need to trust Him.  He hears every prayer whether it be vocal or a silent plea, He counts our tears and He knows our joys.  He is our Father and He wants what is best for us.  We have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the Redeemer of the World.  He lived, He died and He lives today!  He truly was who He said He was, the Son of God. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsamene for each one of us, He suffered for our sins, our pains, our afflictions, our sicknesses so that we don't ever have to walk this earthly life alone.  He died on the cross and was resurrected so that we too could live again!  That is the center point of the gospel, Jesus Christ is central to everything in the church and He should be the center of our lives.  Joseph Smith was a prophet that was called of God to restore the true church here on the earth.  He did in reality see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  He was the translator of the Book of Mormon and it was brought forth by the power of God. The Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ.  It is the word of God, and that book changes lives, it performs miracles.  I know that temples are the house of God and that through it we can be with our families for eternity and that we can come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  We have the priesthood authority here on the earth, it is the power of God.  Nothing gives me more joy than this gospel, the gospel is everything and I have been so incredibly blessed to have had the privilege to share it with the people of Norway for the past 18 months.  Missionary work will always be a part of me, I will share this gospel until I am out of breath because I know that it is where eternal happinnes lies.  

Thank you so much for all the support that I have received while I have been in Norway!  It meant the world to me and made a big difference knowing that I had a big support group cheering me on at home!  Love you all lots and I will see you next week!  :)

#76 Baptism and Turkey bowl

Hei Hei fra Romerike! 

Well well where to begin!?  This week was another incredible week and we have had so much fun!  My District is hilarious and it's been a blast down here in the East! 

Monday

Well... last Monday we went down to Sandvika to play in the Turkey Bowl which was a lot of fun!  My team totally lost but it's all good because we're not supposed to keep track of points anyway haha!  But it was fun to see so many people from the mission!  Then after that we went and had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward and that was a lot of fun!  We went out and knocked doors in a city called Åsan or something like that and then the first door we knocked on took the Book of Mormon and he said that we could come back! This old lady that was next door let us in and she was super old but she let us in and then found out that we were Mormons and she was not a fan of that one let me tell ya that!  But it was a good experience haha!  But there were a lot of people that were answering the doors so that was a good sign!

Tuesday

Today we did a lot of work in the area book with potentials so that we could find addresses so we could start visiting people... and then we went out to a place called Lørenskog to go banking and it was FREEZING!!  But there was one lady that we talked to that wasn't interested in our message but she was so nice and was just chatting with us which was really appreciated,  because not many people even let us talk haha!  We also talked to this guy on the street and as soon as Sister Madsen started talking to him then I literally almost biffed it because I slipped on ice but then I caught myself haha!  Typisk!!!  Then we went with the Elders to meet with another member in our ward and we  just had a spiritual thought about prayer and scriptures and church!

Wednesday

Today we had District Meeting and we were talking about what it means to be a successful missionary and patience!  We did our studies and we had one of our appointments fall through... so then we went banking and we knocked like 10 houses and we found someone that took the Book of Mormon and said that we could come back anytime... and she was super awesome!! The guy that lived next door had gotten the Book of Mormon 10 years ago...had met with the missionaries before... and said we could come back and had meet with him! After that we were supposed to have a dinner appointment but she forgot about it so we just had dinner ourselves!

Thursday

Today we had a lesson with a potential investigator and we taught him about the Plan of Salvation and he was asking such good questions and was super positivie!  I love it when we get to teach people that are actually really interested and are seeking for that knowledge!  It's so much fun!  Then we were driving out to go and visit a less active and we could not find her house to save our lives!  Our GPS led us to a weird gågate and then we couldn't figure out where we were going and then we finally got to the apartment building.... but then none of the apartment buildings had numbers or street signs... so we just started banking to figure out where this less active lived.  We found it!!!  We shared the Christmas initiative and she was telling us how she shares the gospel with all her friends but that she didn't understand anything from the Book of Mormon because it was Norweigan and her first language is Burmese! So the poor girl just doesn't understand because no one got her a Book of Mormon in her language!  After that we had a dinner appointment with a ward memember and that was a lot of fun!  He was telling us all sorts of stories of his life!  

Friday

Today we taught one of our investigators and we taught her about the importance of following the prophet!  It was a really good lesson and she has been reading in the Book of Mormon... but we also found out that there are parts of the Restoration that she doesn't understand so that is what we are going back to next time!  We did our practice presentations for the high school presentation and then we had an appointment with some less actives and talked to them about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and that was a really good lesson!  They were so willing to try better with keeping the sabbath day holy and were identifying how they could improve!  Then we celebrated Elder Dial's birthday by eating cake and mac and cheese!! 

Saturday

Today was VERGAS'S BAPTISM!!!(My investigator in Bergen)  I was able to skype in for the baptism and I had pictures taken of him holding the ipad with me on it:)) I haven't gotten those pictures yet though!  But I will send them when I have gotten them!  It was so incredible to see him be baptized!  It's so crazy that he went from a guy on the street in August to a guy getting baptized in December!  God is a God of Miracles!  It was so incredible!  He thanked us and said that if it weren't for us then he never would've found the right path again which was really cool to hear!  So I got to talk to him over skype plus a lot of other members in Bergen that were telling me to come back because I was  missed!  I miss Bergen so much!  It was really hard for me to leave that area! Then we had Jul I Toner and that took up the rest of the day!  But I got to see people from Asker and Drammen!

Sunday

Today we had church and it was my last fast Sunday in Norway!!! So I bore my testimony about how God is a God of Miracles and how we get to be a part of the gospel is a miracle!  Then we had MMK and then it was Jul I Toner once again that took up the rest of the day!  And I saw more people from Asker and Drammen! 

Monday

We did our high school presentation today and it was so much fun!  The presentations went really well and it was cool because you could see the kids that were actually paying attention!  We got some really good questions and then we got some really wacky questions like if girls always have to wear skirts and if Joseph Smith translated the plates with magic glasses...so it was an entertaining time!  But it was so much fun!  There were sooo many kids who took the Book of Mormon and we actually have a potential investigator from that as well!  We also got asked to come back next Friday to do another presentation for two other classes!  Then we had studies and then we contacted to the train station and back!  I also cut Elder Dial's hair because he was willing to take the risk of having a sister missionary cut it instead of paying 200 kroner to get it cut and it actually turned out!  But I was pretty stressed out the whole time, probably because he was stressing himself out!:))  His hair means a lot to him haha! 

Tuesday

Today was Christmas Zone Conference and I love Christmas Zone Conference!!!  It's the best one!  We talked about a mighty change of heart and then we had skits that we did in groups, musical numbers and slideshows!  It was so much fun!  But it did hit me that my time is coming to an end because I had to give my "burnimony" because I'm "dying" in the mission so I shared D&C 68:6 which is one of my, if not my very favorite, scripture and talked about joy!  It's so weird that I'm a "departing missionary" and I'm not a fan of that!  I've cried multiple times this week because of that haha!  Emotional roller coaster!  But Christmas conference was good!  Then we helped the Relief Society set up for an activity! 

Today

Today we have no idea what we are doing...maybe going shopping! 

Love you lots and miss you tons!  Also, next Monday wil be my last P Day!  The 18th will be my last Monday in Norway but Sister Davis and I will not have a P Day on the 18th!  :)

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!

Pictures of 

Kylee and the senior missionary couple in Bergen

Kylee and her new companion

From the Turkey bowl in Sandvika

Elder Dial's cake

From her apartment

#75 Moving day and Italian restaurant for Thanksgiving:)

Hei Hei fra Romerike! 

So I don't have a lot of time today because we are doing a turkey bowl (football game)and we have to travel down towards Sandvika... so this one is going to be a little shorter:)

Monday

Last Monday was my last P Day in Bergen so we went and emailed and then we walked around a couple more of the tourist shops and walked in and out of stores... and that was about it!  We went to family home evening so  I could say goodbye to some of the YSA that were there which was a lot of fun! 

Tuesday

Last full day in Bergen so I was running around the town trying to say goodbye to everyone!  We went and said goodbye to  a less active and she always was telling us that people give her ornaments... and so I gave her an ornament that is in the shape of a heart and she put it on the tree right away!  She was so grateful!  Then we went and ate lunch and then said goodbye to our investigator who is going to be baptized!  He was so excited to tell me where he was reading in the Book of Mormon and was telling me how much he loved 1 Nephi 11... and then he was telling me that I wasn't allowed to leave Bergen but that I needed to stay and see him be baptized! Then he went and bought chocolate as a goodbye present! I was able to see an investigator who I taught in my first area in Bergen and then to two people in the ward that I got along really well with!  After that we had MMK and then I ran and visited two other less actives that I worked with... and then we went and said goodbye to another investigator and her son. After that we had choir practice so it was a crazy day! 

Wednesday

Today was moves day and my whole district came to the airport and said goodbye to Sister Stolp and I!! This was the last time that I would see any of them until I see them after my mission... so that was really sad...the people in that district are seriously like my best friends because I've been with them for so long!  They were the best and probably my favorite district so far! So anyway, then I traveled to Romerike after my plane got delayed because it was snowing like crazy! My new companion came and picked me up from the train station and took my stuff back to the apartment!  We have a lot of fun and it's been a blast these last few days!  I am also serving with Elder Dial and Elder Applegate which is a ton of fun!  They crack me up! Then we dropped the Sister missionary before me off at the train station so that she could move to Drammen. We came back to the apartment and planned a little for the day and then we taught a lesson to one of our investigators. We taught her about prayer and how it is a commandment and it was pretty good!  Then we went with the Elders to go to a former investigator and did some service... and then we went to Oslo to hand out Book of Mormons for the Book of Mormon Musical!  That was so much fun!  I'm glad that I am serving so close so that I have that opportunity!

Thursday

Today we had to pick up Sister Jones from the airport because her plane was cancelled to go home so she was on splits with us for the day!  We went home and did studies and then we went banking and the weather was terrible!  We were just laughing because it was raining so bad and it was super windy and our umbrellas kept flipping and it was just a good ol time!  We got permission to go and eat somewhere nice because it was Sister Jones's last day and it was Thanksgiving...so we went to an Italian restaurant haha! No better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than pasta right? After that we went to the book of Mormon musical again and it was again so much fun!  It's so funny because there are so many people that want the book...people even come up to us and ask if they can have one and people who haven't even seen the play take the book too because we just tell them we are handing out free books haha! 

Friday

Today we took Sister Jones back to the airport and then had District Meeting with the new District!  We are in the district with the Hamar Elders who are Elders Christian and Jensen! We talked about our commission as a missionary and then did practicals of telling people why we are here!  Then we did our personal study and then weekly planning and then we had a Thanksgiving Dinner with a family in the ward and it was great!  

Saturday

Today we went and visited an old lady in the ward and talked to her about gratitude and she was sharing story after story!  I've missed going to visit these old people!  They are the best and they've got so much life experience, it's so much fun to hear all of their stories!  Then we contacted potentials and got a few new appointments for next week and then drove to a members house so she could drive us to Drammen for Julitoner!  Both Elders and and my comapnion play in the orchestra so I get to go and listen to Julitoner three times which I am pumped about! I got to see lots of people from Drammen and a few people from Sandvika and it was so much fun to see them all!  

Sunday

Today was my first Sunday in Romerike and we had two investigators in church!  We taught one of our investigators who is 16 during Sunday School and she is incredible!  She totally understands the gospel and we were teaching her about her individual worth and she just cried and was talking about how we are all worth the same and how God sees us that way... and then she does personal progress and has notes all over her Book of Mormon!  Talk about a prepared person!  She is awesome and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to teach her! Then we went to our MMK's house and had dinner and talked about a school presentation that we are going to be doing next Monday! We are talking to the high school in Romerike about the church!  

Today

Today we are going down to Sandvika to go and play the Turkey Bowl with all the other missionaries in our zone and in the surrounding areas so that will be fun! That's why this one is a little shorter today:)  

Also, next week I will not be having P Day on Monday, but it will be on Wednesday, December 6th instead.  So just a heads up with that:) 

Love you all lots and miss you tons!

#74 Splits to Aalesund and moving to Romerike (Oslo)

Hei Hei fra Bergen!!! 

This week has been another MIRACLE week!  As always, GOD IS GOOD and I have seen so many tender mercies and it's been a good last week in Bergen!  I'll let you know what's happening at the end of the email since I had to wait all week too:) 

Monday

So last Monday we took a ferry that only took 15 minutes from the city of Bergen... and it went to who knows where:)) We took pictures and then came back haha!  Then we walked in the souvenir shops and that was nice because they have so much Christmas stuff up now.... so it's fun walking around!  Plus it keeps us from freezing! We taught a lesson with our investigator and the elders came with!  We were going to teach her 12 year old son but he was feeling sick so didn't come out during the lesson... and so we just taught our investigator about the Plan of Salvation and it was incredible!  It really hit her and we asked her to read Mormon 9 and then to pray about the Book of Mormon and she said that she would!  The Spirit was so strong in that lesson and it was like I could literally feel my heart warming!  It was an awesome lesson!

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and we talked about knowledge and virtue and then we practiced teaching Elder Jenson for our practical!  We had to teach our investigator the law of chastity after District Meeting so that's why we practiced teaching:) It's so helpful to practice teaching because then you know exactly what you are doing when you are actually teaching the lesson!  After that we watched the Christmas initiative and then it was time to teach our investigator!  We taught him the law of chastity with Elder and Sister Jenson and it went super well actually! So that was a good thing!   He is progressing towards baptism real nice!  He is still working on not smoking but is down to just nicotine gum that he uses and he has been reading the Book of Mormon every single day!!!  YESSSS!!!!!  Then it was time for Sister Stolp and I to head to Ålesund!  So we got some food and then took the plane to Ålesund! That was a sketchy little plane that we needed to take...I was thinking that those propellers  were not getting us in the air but we made it even though I was a little scared!  But we got to Ålesund and the Ålesund sisters picked us up from the airport and we drove to their apartment! They live in the middle of the city and it was so cute!!!

Wednesday

Today was a mission wide finding day!  We were out for about 6 hours just banking or contacting on the street.  I was with Sister Ogletree for the first part of the day and it was freezing cold... and we were hailed on like 3 different times... but it was beautiful and we were having great conversations and handing out Book of Mormons!  Miracle story though...this is actually just really funny! So we were talking to this guy from Scotland and he was pretty positive but we can't teach him because he lives in Scotland:) Then there was this sign that says 10 kroner chocolate... so of course we go into the store! We talked to someone people at the store and then when we walked out of the store, we met this girl..and she had the Book of Mormon in Polish and totally knew where the church was and said that maybe she would come to church and so on! We wouldn't have met her if we hadn't gone into the store to get the chocolate!  God knew that I would go into the store to get the chocolate and because we did... we met a prepared soul!  God works in mysterious ways haha!  After that  I was with Sister Tew and we were getting appointments and handing out Book of Mormons and getting potentials!! We drove out to this city called Moa in Ålesund and knocked doors over there and it was awesome!  Seriously so many miracles I can't even go into all of them!  

Thursday

It was time to head back to Bergen so we got back to Bergen in the afternoon and then we went and visited a less active. On the way I talked to this girl on the bybane and introduced the Book of Mormon and then she took that and said that we could meet with her!  Miracle find!  Then we sat on the bus and we talked to another lady and her niece was a Mormon and she asked us if we could mark a page that would be important for her to read!  Miracle Find!  After that we had dinner with the less active and then we shared the Mormon Message about the sacrament and how important church attendance really is... and she was telling us about all of these "reasons" that she couldn't come to church and I was thinking about how absolutely nothing should keep us from church.  Yes Heavenly Father of course understands us but that doesn't mean that He expects any less of us.  I just love the parable of the rich man when Christ asks him to sell everything that he has and then he doesn't do it and then Christ says that there is not a single person that would give up everything and not be blessed in ten fold.  It's the same thing with keeping His commandments, when we keep His commandments then we will be blessed ten fold.  We went to visit another less active and we got there a little early...so we knocked on a few doors and we got let in!! This guy was actually a religion teacher and he had heard a lot about our church and we were able to introduce the Book of Mormon and just bear testimony of it.... and I think that is something that I will miss the most about my mission.  Is being able to bear testimony in the way that I do on a mission.  Of course I can still bear testimony at home, but it's not quite the same. We went and visited the less actives that we had an appointment with and we taught them about the life of Christ and the scriptures and they are literally so cool!  He was having a rough day at work so he just started reading the Book of Mormon during work because he knew it would make a difference!  WHAT FAITH!!!  I have literally learned so much from the people that I teach and try to strengthen!  I owe the strengthening of my testimony to a lot of the people that I have met here in Norway!

Friday

Today we were out contacting and we had given out 3 Book of Mormons in literally 20 minutes! I could go into detail about each one of those situations and what happened with it but I'll just share the last one because it's the coolest!  He was an atheist and told me that if I could give him evidence that God existed then he would believe in God...so I just handed him the Book of Mormon:) He looked at me like I was crazy and I started bearing testimony about the book.  I then told him that if he would read the book from cover to cover then he would know that there is a God... and he took the book and then might be contacting the missionaries in Oslo!  Which is where he lives!  But isn't that so cool!!!  I literally love the power that testimony has!  WOW!  Then we went and visited another less active and it was actually really sad because she has lost all of her faith...we were teaching the Restoration and it was like teaching an investigator.  But she had started laughing at the Plan of Salvation because it had been brought up and just saying that she had didn't believe certain things.  It's so sad to see people that were once strong in their testimonies feed their doubt and become so lost.  Hopefully we can help her find her faith again. Then we played sport at the church!  

Saturday

Today we were out contacting and we handed out another 3 Book of Mormons!  Again there were way cool stories but one of them I think had seen us earlier and was waiting for us.  He waited for us to come up to him and he asked us what the book of mormon was and said that it was difficult to be a believer and to stand alone.  He took the Book of Mormon and then said that he might be coming to church!  He didn't really want to meet with us but no effort is wasted!  It was super cool!  We also met another guy that was literally ridiculing us on the street because we were Americans and then proceeded to tell us that if he saw something bad happen then he would go and help them instead of "sit here and preach our word" and that made me pretty frustrated.  But then I was thinking about it and I'm acting on exactly what I believe. The Lord has asked us to preach His word and if I truly believe that, then I ought to go and preach His word. Then we did weekly planning and then had studies! 

Sunday

Today we had church and it was great!  After that we went to a dinner appointment with an old couple in our ward and another member and it was so much fun!  We were just chatting and then we had a spiritual thought from Alma 26:16 about rejoicing in the Lord and being grateful! But before we went to his appointment  we contacted and we met this lady who was just laughing at us.  I asked if I could ask her a question and she said can't you give me money instead, I'm hungry.  I told her that I had candy and I gave it to her and then she listened to our message about the Book of Mormon.  But it was a testimony that service can really soften any heart and that being able to brighten someone's day is truly what gives us happiness.  Then we had a skype session and went to the Jensons and then finished up the day with studies!  Also, our investigator called us just to tell us how much he loved reading the Book of Mormon!  He has been reading like crazy and tells us that he isn't sure how to describe it but that he just wants more and more!  Literally, the Book of Mormon changes lives!!!!  It is incredible!  It made me think of the scripture in D&C about how great our joy shall be in bringing souls unto Him!  Oh how great that joy truly is!

Today

Today we found out about moves!  I will be moving to Romerike!  I will finish training a sister in the mission who has been out for 6 weeks named Sister Madsen!  I'm super excited for the miracles that I will be seeing in Romerike!  So next week then I'll be emailing from there! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  This year I am incredibly grateful for my mission and being able to spend another Thanksgiving here in Norway!  I am so incredibly grateful that I have the chance to share the gospel with so many people here and I am grateful that I can rejoice in my God because of the gospel that I have been blessed with which really I owe every other blessing to! Love you lots and miss you tons! 

#73 20 Book of Mormons in one day

GGGOOOOOODDDD MMMOOORRRNNNIIINNNGGG FROM BERGEN!!! 

We worship a God of Miracles... every single day is filled with tender mercies and as always..GOD IS GOOD! 

Monday

So last P Day we decided that we were going to go hiking. We stopped by Subway and then took a bus up to some neighborhood where the hike began. We started hiking..but it was super slippery... so we didn't hike very far...we just stopped and ate our sandwiches and then came back down! :)) We had a lesson that we were teaching at a member's house with our investigator. It was an incredible lesson!  They are also from Chile and speak Spanish so that was super helpful because everyone understands the gospel better in their own language.  We talked about the Book of Mormon and really focused on how it testifies of Christ along with the Bible... and we committed our investigator to read it from the beginning every single day.  Then they fed us pizza and we all had dinner!  

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and we went over area books and then talked about member work and how we can better work with the ward and get them to help us with referrals.  We had a lesson with a potential investigator...  her dad was a member of the church when he was alive and so she knew a lot about the church... but she has had a really hard time lately.  She told us that it always seems that when life gets super hard, then the missionaries just show up.  God doesn't do coincidences!  We taught her the Restoration of the gospel and then when I was reading Moroni 10:3-4 at the end of the lesson... she was crying and said that she felt this was something that her dad wanted her to do.  It was such a good lesson!  We committed her to read in the Book of Mormon.  But then we got a text from her a couple of days later saying that she couldn't meet until closer to Christmas which was a bummer!  But we're going to try and meet with her anyway!  Then we had MMK and then dinner and studies! 

Wednesday

Today Sister Stolp and I got stuff bought and ready for our splits that we had with the Stavanger Sisters!  Sister Sorensen (who I served with in Drammen) and Sister Morris came on splits to Bergen!  I was with Sister Morris for the rest of the day today!  We went and banked those same houses that I banked with Sister Brimhall...but we didn't have as much success...probably because it was the middle of the week.  We were able to give out one Book of Mormon and when we gave it to the girl she said, "Well then I guess I'll have to read it"  PERFECT!  I love it when people do that!  We had one guy open the door really fast and all I could say was ,"Hei" and then he slammed the door in our face.  But we were just cracking up!  You know when you're well seasoned when you find that amusing haha!  Just not ready for the gospel quite yet, that's okay!  So it was onto another door!  But we had a lot of fun banking!  I love it!

Thursday

Today we were going to have a lesson with our atheist friend... but he cancelled again and told us that he had to go to work. We saw him in the city when I was contacting with Sister Sorensen ...so then we asked him if he was even interested in learning anymore... but we haven't heard anything... so that's just sad!  But that's okay because that meant that we were out contacting for a long time and we found some prepared souls!  We gave 2 Book of Mormons, one we got the number to, but the other one didn't want to give us her number or commit to an appointment.  But here's the coolest one!  So we stopped this guy and he said he was in a hurry and asked if we would walk with him across the city... so we just walked and "gave him the watered down version of the Book of Mormon" (name the movie!!) no but really  I explained the Book of Mormon and what we do as missionaries and he said he was interested.... and then he gave us his phone number and before I had even finished that then he had said, "Can I have the book please?" YES!!! So we gave him the book and have an appointment scheduled with him!  YAY!!!! So that was a blast!!!  Then Sister Hatch and I later had dinner and did studies and 12 uke! We also figured out that with all the companionships in Bergen that day we had given out 20 Book of Mormons in just one day!  MIRACLES! Oh....funny story:))....We were talking to this guy, SUPER positive and then this bird poops all over him and then he just stands there and says, "You know, it was nice talking to you but I have to go" and it was that dang stupid bird that ruined it!  He would've totally taken the Book of Mormon but then the bird came!  Hahaha!  I was cracking up!

Friday

Today we taught our investigator again and we read Alma 36 and talked about repentance and how repentance is change and how he is already in that process because he is in the process of changing (keeping his commitments) He has stopped smoking actual cigarettes which is awesome and then he has been reading the Book of Mormon every single day!!!!  So it was an awesome lesson!  Then we contacted on the streets until we had to take our bus to a pizza place where we met with some less actives and the elders to eat dinner! That was super good!  They are hilarious!  Then we played sport (volleyball) which was also really fun!  It was a good day all around! 

Saturday

Today we had our språk class and then we taught a lesson to a potential investigator. However...we quickly found out that he isn't really interested in the gospel but is really lonely and is sad that he isn't married... so I felt like I was more of a counselor and I tried bringing it back to the gospel.  He would say, "I am so lonely" and then I would just respond with, "Well we are never alone.  We always have God" Yea...I'm not cut out to be a counselor but that's okay!  Then we helped one of our ward members clean the church building and then did weekly planning!  

Sunday

Today we had Relief Society first, Sunday School and then the primary program!  We talked about missionary work in Relief Society and it was really good!  Then we had the primary program and I love the primary songs! There's always the one kid that makes it a show for everyone!  So that's always fun!  Then we had dinner, went to the Jensons and then did 12 week! 

Today

Today we might go take a ferry somewhere!  So that will be fun!  

Have a great week!  GOD IS GOOD! Love you all lots and miss you tons!

#72 God is the author of this work, we're just the pencil

Hei Hei fra Bergen!!! 

This week was another incredible week in Bergen but what's new?! Every week in the mission field is a miracle week!  And it was another week where God's hand was seen and always a good reminder that GOD IS GOOD!!! 

Monday

So last P-Day we ended up walking around stores and then we went to Subway which was delicious!  Then we decided to go out banking and we finished banking out an apartment and we handed out a couple of Book of Mormons!  There was one lady that was a single mom and when she opened the door she wasn't really interested but then we kept talking and then she took the Book of Mormon!  There was another one that we talked to but I thought we were out of Book of Mormons so we just shared a card with him.... and then 2 doors later Sister Hatch tells me that she has a Book of Mormon so we just left it at his doorstep haha!  After that we went and did family history and I found more names on my Dad's side of the line so that was exciting!  I even came in contact with someone that turns out to be related to me!  And she has all kinds of information and stories from my Dad's side of the line!  So cool!  

Tuesday

Today was Halloween and we sang a Christmas song for District Meeting haha! We talked about something great I am sure, I just don't remember what it was! We went out and contacted...but we weren't having too much success. We did family history when the other elders had a lesson because they needed us in the building...and then we had MMK and then choir practice with the ward! 

Wednesday

Today we had two lessons planned with investigators but one of them cancelled... but that's alright... so then we taught our investigator later on and we talked to him about trying to stop smoking.... and he comes in and already tells us that he is working on not smoking!  He did it on his own!  It was awesome!  Then we shared the story of Nephi building the boat and how we can accomplish what the Lord has commanded us to do and it was an awesome lesson!  He is doing awesome!  We changed his baptismal date until December 2nd... but he is working towards it!  After that lesson we were back out contacting...but there weren't too many people out because of the weather and that it's freezing cold.... but we're working on it! We were going to have another lesson with a potential but she also cancelled... so then we went out and banked an apartment by the church and we got in!!! We were talking to them about the Book of Mormon and then they were asking us all sorts of questions because they are Muslim... but they said that they would love a copy of the Book of Mormon... so we're going to go and give that to them in Arabic this week! 

Thursday

Today we went and visited a less active and she was decorating her house for Christmas... and we shared a Christmas Mormon Message and talked about service!  It's never too early for Christmas! So that was really fun!  Then we went out contacting and then we had a "Meet the Mormons" open house for people to come to... but there weren't too many people that came.  There was one girl that came that knew someone in the ward and we were trying to ask her about if she was religious and things like that and we asked if we could tell her a little bit more about our church and she just responds with, "I am going to go look for my friend" and then gets up and leaves ha! So that was a hard pass but oh well!  Just not prepared yet, that's okay! 

Friday

Today we had another lesson cancel on us but we did our studies as usual and then we did weekly planning!  That took up a good chunk of the day!  Then we went and played sport and Sister Hatch and I played against the Elders and 3 other boys and we won!  Sister Hatch and I beat 5 boys in a volleyball game!! We were pretty excited!  And they weren't going easy on us either..they were so frustrated haha!  

Saturday

Today we had splits... so I was on splits with Sister Brimhall (she just got here a few weeks ago)!  We went to språk class and then we studied up for our investigator's lesson.  It was probably one of the best lessons that I have had with him!  We talked about following the prophet and obedience and we were sharing examples from the Bible and the Book of Mormon and it was awesome!  Sharing personal experiences and we were using so many scriptures!!  It was awesome!!!  Then when we were almost done with the lesson then he points at me and says, "I believe...no, I know that you are in the Book of Mormon 24/7 even in your sleep.  You have the book memorized." And that was super funny, but it was also really cool at the same time because I have tried to study the Book of Mormon on my mission and it's just cool that my relationship to the Book of Mormon is evident in my teaching and how I am as a person. Then he turned to Sister Brimhall and was telling her that I was spiritual and then he says, "She has changed me" and it hasn't been me, but it's been the Spirit and the conversion power that it has.  But it is incredible to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and be able to see that conversion power take place in others.  Then we went banking and we saw so many miracles!  We handed out a Book of Mormon to an 85 year old man and he was so grateful for it and said that that might spark up his reading again. When we offered him the book then he said, "How can you afford to just give it to me for free?" and we said that it was because our message was worth much more... and dang, I nearly cried at the door because I was so touched by the message that we share.  We literally have something above any price and seeing people ready to accept the message is incredible and that ties into the next few doors.  We found a guy that was from Oslo but is in Bergen every other weekend and we gave him the Book of Mormon and he said that he would love to have it... and will read it on the way back to Oslo.  Totally receptive and said that he would be here every other weekend!  Then we kept going and we found a girl that couldn't meet because she had visitors but she said that we were welcome to come back any day at all to share our message because she was usually home.  Then we were walking towards the bybane and Sister Brimhall stopped at the bus stop and we talked to this lady who gladly took the Book of Mormon and said that she was going to read in it the minute she got home and that we could meet with her!  Then I stopped this one guy and he said that we could teach him as well and gave us his number!  After every receptive person, Sister Brimhall and I just looked at each other and our jaws just dropped and we said, "Is this real?" What stood out to me about it was that we went out that day expecting miracles and we know from Mormon 9 that God is a God of Miracles and boy did He show us those miracles that day! There are people prepared for this, there are people who are ready to accept the gospel, there are people that are being put in our path and we were led to them by the hand of God.  God is the author of this work, we're just the pencil and I LOVE being able to have a front row seat to miracles!!!!  

Sunday

Today our investigator came to church and we had a wonderful testimony meeting!  I was able to go up and bear my testimony and I just love being able to testify!  It's the greatest thing I know of and we are so privileged to be able to share our testimonies... especially in our wards every month!  Fast and Testimony Meeting is inspired, we need to hear other's testimonies and we need to bear our own to keep them strong.  Then we had a ward member come up to us and talked to us about our investigator.... and invited us to come to his house today to teach our investigator.... and helped us plan a lesson and was working with us! THAT IS WHAT WE WHANT EVERY MEMBER TO DO AND IT WAS AWESOME!!! WE'RE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's going to be incredible!  Then Sister Stolp and I were planning parts of the Mission Training Plan with the Zone Leaders!

Today

Today I think we are going on a hike so that will be fun!  

I am so blessed to be here in Norway!  I love the people! I love the country!  I love the Lord!  I love this work and I love the message that I get to share every single day!  Missionary work has become a part of my identity and that is something that will be sticking with me forever!  GOD IS GOOD!