#49 I know the Book of Mormon is true!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

It's warming up and summer is coming and everything is green!! I love summer!!!  This past week was another good week...it was kind of a blur though... it went by so fast!  I also forgot my planner and camera today..so...I'll see what I can remember:))

Monday

Last Monday we went and helped a lady clean her apartment because she is moving....and then we worked in the area book!  This day just flew by!

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and we talked about hope and obedience and then we talked about the area book!   We then had District lunch and then we had an appointment with a family in our ward.  We went for an early dinner and I tasted rhubarb for the first time!:) They were asking us about 17 Mai and then her husband started singing Ja Vi Elsker  (national anthem)...so we sang it for him!  That was our spiritual thought:))... because we were heading out to catch the bus because we had an appointment at the church!  But when we go to the church we got a text that from a friend of his that was saying he wasn't interested... so that was a little random but he didn't come obviously. So we went out and contacted people on the street instead... because that's what we do with our open time!

Wednesday

Today we had an appointment with one of our investigators and we also had an appointment with a less active. Our investigator just didn't show up and then our less active cancelled on us...so what did we do!  We went and contacted and tried to get people to listen to us talk about the Book of Mormon!:)  I got so tired of people saying no that I would just start right into my discussion to stop them instead!:))  We had a dinner appointment... and we actually went banking for about 20 minutes with their daugther just in the neighborhood.  Sister Sorensen and the girl went banking and then Sister Reid and I went banking!  It was way fun!  This girl was so excited to go knock on doors! Ever time we see her she asks if she can come banking with us... she has no fear knocking on these doors..  She even asked her brother in their skype session what tips he had for banking on doors because she was going out with the missionaries!!  How awesome is that?!  Then we went to Young Womens and helped them with family history!  They were preparing names for their temple trip to the Stockholm temple that they were going on the next day!  

Thursday

Today we thought it was going to be super nice weather so we went outside to weekly plan.... but it wasn't that nice weather but we still got sunburnt!  We weekly planned and then contacted and then we had an appointment with our awesome neighbors!  They were doing a late birthday celebration for me:)!  So they gave me jelly beans and some pistachio dessert sauce thing...it was nice of them to even think of a birthday present! Then we played cards and I even won once!:) 

Friday

Today we looked up the address to a positive record that we found in our area book and then went in search of them.  We knocked on what we thought was their house.... but no one answered the door... so we weren't able to ask them.  We then contacted in the city for a little bit and then had a lesson with one of our investigators by the river.  We taught her about the Plan of Salvation.  She was super excited to find out about where we were before we came to earth and where we go afterwards... so she was really intrigued in the lesson.  She did laugh though when we invited her to church... but at least she has been reading in the Book of Mormon!  So that's good:))  Then we did our language study and then we had an appointment with a new investigator.... but she said that her brother in Finland had a friend that was a Mormon and he had better questions than she did... so she called her brother in Finland to talk to us!!  Neither Sister Reid nor Sister Sorensen could really hear everything he said because I was sitting closest to the phone... but it just turned into a bible bash.  Bible bashes are definitely not my favorite thing, especially when they aren't open minded to hear your side of it at all... and as a missionary you just need to sit and listen and take it.  But I was able to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I know that that Book is true.  But that in order for us to find out if it is true, then we NEED to read and we NEED to pray and we NEED to have a sincere heart, and pray with real intent.  If we don't have that sincerity of heart then we aren't going to find out if it is true because our Father in Heaven knows what our intent is.  The Spirit can only bring the message UNTO our hearts, not INTO. We need to let the message come in, that is up to us.  

Saturday

Today we contacted in the city and then we had language study with a member in the ward and then we tried to visit a referral.  She has been in church once, the one I think I talked about last week, but she said that she was busy and had a lot of things to do, so she couldn't meet right then.... but we'll try again another day! We also had dinner with mommo and besse and we talked about Patriarchal Blessings.  I also got to see pictures of my Great Great Great Grandma and my Great Great Grandma and I have pictures that I get to keep.. so that was super fun!!  I also got to read my Grandma's patriarchal blessing and that was a super cool experience!!!  

Sunday

We had MMK and then church.... and our investigator came to Sunday School so that was super good!!  We also got a new appointment set up with him so that was another bonus!  Then we contacted in the city and we talked to one guy.... and we were talking to him about families.... and he was asking us what we believed about families... and you could tell he was curious... and I was so excited and he hadn't even said anything yet, I was just so excited that you could tell he was kind of interested.  And then he said that he didn't need to learn more.... and my heart just sunk.:(( Just give us a chance!!!  We finished up our studies and I had the coolest studies ever this past week!  Go study the scriptures about Christ in the Topical Guide!  SO COOL!  We had the most delicious dinner..salmon with rice and vegetables!  So good!  Then we did 12 week by watching the District!

Today

Today I think the plan is is to eat lunch and then to play volleyball so that will be super fun!  The weather is so nice so we will be outside!

Love you lots and miss you tons!!! 

#48 Hurra for 17 mai!!!!

HIPP HIPP HURRA!!! HIPP HIPP HURRA!!! HIPP HIPP HURRA!!! FOR 17 MAI!!!

Being in Drammen for the 17 Mai was definitely the highlight of the week..I'm sorry you guys don't get to be in Norway at this time of year:)

Monday

Last P Day we just walked around the malls and we all felt like we had run a marathon..I think as a missionary it's just permanent for your legs to burn haha!  But then we contacted a little bit at the end of the day and then worked a little bit in our area book because our binder is broken!

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and I had the doctrine portion of District Meeting!  We talked about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father and how the Gospel Blesses Families...if you get a chance, go and watch the Mormon Message, "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" It puts the relationship with Heavenly Father in perspective that we can actually comprehend a little bit! Then we went and visited with a less active... and she is incredible!  We talked to her about prayer, scripture study, and church attendance and she is getting ready to go to the temple!  She is reading in the Book of Mormon every day and she made it past 1 Nephi for the first time!  We went to our dinner appointment and that was the greatest dinner appointment ever!  This old man was just breaking into song and then we all just joined in, "Oh what a beautiful morning" was a fan favorite haha!!:))  We sang hymns for our spiritual thought and we were struggling keeping the tune so that was a good ol adventure!:))

Wednesday

17 MAI!!! Today is the greatest day in the entire world!  I wanted so badly to be walking around in a bunad (Norwegian's culture dress up for this day) and so instead we had Norwegian waffles for breakfast....we had ribbons in our hair and we were all dressed up in red, white and blue with our Norwegian flag backpacks and flags!  We watched the big parade in the city and then we went to a family in the ward and watched the kid parade. We went down to the school and ate Krone is (my favorite ice cream) ,sang the national anthem (which we have practiced and totally know now:)) and then we went back to their house and had dinner and dessert and just relaxed.... and then we all went and played frisbee golf out in the woods!  It was a blast!  We had so much fun that entire day and it was the best way to spend 17 Mai!  Plus..all of our prayers were answered and it didn't rain! Heavenly Father was watching out for us!

Thursday

Today we had weekly planning and we went and visited a member far away!  I felt like I had been on a bus all day!  It takes over an hour to get there by bus and then the same amount of time on the way back..but we showed her the Mormon Message about "You Never Know" and then we were talking about how we never know the good we do.  She is a nurse and she started talking about what she does and cool experiences she had... and my companions were just laughing at me because I was so excited talking about the medical world and I just kept asking for stories and questions.... but the member just lit up because you could tell how passionate she was about her job...so win win! We called all the way through the phone on the bus back...we have people who want us to call them back and new appointments!!

Friday

Today was crazy busy but oh so good! We had an appointment with a new investigator and she was telling us how she just didn't find joy in her life anymore and how she just wanted to give up.... but then we taught her the message of the Restoration and how God does love her.... and the Spirit was so strong in that lesson.  I was even getting all teary eyed being able to testify of God's love for her and the difference the gospel can make in her life.  So many people look to us 20 year old girls to help them with all sorts of walks of life and the only thing that can truly help them is the gospel... and I'm incredibly grateful that I get to share and teach and testify.  I sat in that lesson and just thought, "This is why I'm on a mission" and then began getting teary eyed again in a part where I shouldn't have been teary eyed haha!  But that lesson was incredible!  She then said at the end of the lesson, "Well maybe this is the thing that will be able to help me find the joy in my life again" We had another appointment... but that fell through so then we had another appointment with another investigator and we gave him a church tour and started teaching the Restoration! He just kept telling us that he was so open minded and truly interested in learning more and had such great questions! People searching with real intent..hallelujah!  Then we met with another investigator and that was a follow up lesson....but she has been reading in the Book of Mormon!! After that we went and visited a family in the ward because they were having an open house for a past sister missionary that served here and that was so much fun!!  They were a blast!!:)) 

Saturday

Today we had a walking day!  We walked to the city to  pick up Sister Reid's birthday package and then we walked from the church up to our less active's house and she is almost completely done with smoking!!  YAY!!!  She has been working so hard and has been reading in the Book of Mormon every single day!  We did a craft day with her and it was so much fun!  Then we walked back down to the church and then went to Mommo and Besse's and talked about family history.... and I was able to see these old books with some pictures of my ancestors from Norway, so that was super cool!  So this day just flew by!!!

Sunday

Church was incredible today!  Such good talks given!  We taught about the Plan of Salvation in Sunday School in English because there were Americans visiting so that was super fun!  We even got a referral from the people visiting!  And the referral was in church!!  So possible another new investigator!!  Then we contacted in the city for a little bit and no one was really interested but we testified anyway!  Then we had studies and dinner!  Good ol Sunday!

Today

Today we don't actually know what we're doing!  Probably nothing special! 

Have a great week!  Love you lots and miss you tons:)


I forgot to add my spiritual thought that I wanted to at the end of my group email...so this past week I was reading in Alma 29 where it reads,

8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. 10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. 11 Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage.12 Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage.13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.

I absolutely loved that!  That is tells of all these different miracles that God performed and then says that that SAME God called me to preach the gospel.  That's incredible!  I was listening this morning to a devotional given at an EFY by Troy Dunn called "Life is a Football Game" and you have to try and look it up and listen to it because IT IS SO GOOD!!! And it says, "Missionaries are so proud of the team they play for that they wear the name right on their chest" and that gave me so much joy and happiness to be able to represent His team while I'm here in Norway.  That I get to wear His jersey! 

#47 Interim Training in Oslo and Miracles!

Hey Hey Hey from Drammen!!!

This past week has been another incredible week and also a very busy week!  So the whole week is just a blur so that's that...talk to you guys next week!  Kidding!:))

Monday

So last Monday we went on a hike with some YSA from our ward and we hiked up that big waterfall and I sent pictures of all of that last week!  So that was that!  Then we basically just collapsed in the church and sat there and sent pictures and then we met with our less active and talked about temple preparation and showed her the Mormon Messages about why we build temples, how the temple is a beacon, and what blessings the temple brings.  She is awesome and we are so excited to see her progress!!!

Tuesday

Today we had a mission wide webex about doing the things that we can control every single day so that we can help the work progress here in Norway!  Obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles!  Before the webex  we had District brunch and that was a lot of fun!  We did some of our studies and then went to dinner at an elderly woman's home in our ward.  She is the sweetest old lady and has such a strong testimony of the gospel! She is the only member in her family but has such a strong faith!  I love being able to learn from the people that I go and visit..I always feel like I'm the one being uplifted and taught!  I guess that's why they say that when the Spirit is there, then the teacher and the learner are both edified!  We also had the rest of our studies and 12 week!

Wednesday

Today we traveled to Oslo for interim training!  Which is just first transfer training for the new missionaries!  We were combined with the other new missionaries and their trainers as well, so we had a lot of fun all together!  We did lots of practicals about public transportation, contacting on the street and banking!  We also talked about adjusting to missionary life and how to come to love and learn the language!  We then were able to watch The Best Two Years!  Sister Sorensen had never seen it before but she had basically seen it by the time we watched it because Sister Reid and I can quote that thing from beginning to end... so Sister Sorensen knew all the lines already haha!  And it's a movie that is quoted on a daily basis! So that was a lot of fun!  Then the AP's drove us back from the mission home to Oslo to stay with the other sisters!

Thursday

Today was another day of Interim Training!  We had more practicals about using the scriptures, how to begin teaching and asking questions in our lessons!  Then we played a language game with everyone and that was super fun!  It was like the heads up game where you have to explain the word without saying the word...it was hilarious to watch all the greenies get up and trying to figure out what we were even saying... and we're sitting there speaking slowly and trying to speak broken Norwegian so they can piece it together!!:))  Then we took the train home and we had an appointment with a lady in the church with a member present.  We gave her a church tour and it was so cool because we were really able to testify about something in each room... if it was about the Young women program, or baptism, or the sacrament.  Sister Sorensen sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" in the chapel and the Spirit was so strong!  Then we taught the Restoration and watched the Restoration film and she said that she doesn't deny Joseph Smith and that you can't tell someone that they didn't see something.  We committed her to pray about Joseph Smith and the First Vision and she said that she would and she even prayed out loud with us in the lesson!!  I LOVE IT WHEN INVESTIGATORS PRAY WITH YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!! It's the greatest feeling in the entire world!  Wow!  So it was an incredible lesson!  

Friday

Today we had lunch at Mommo and Besse's and we talked about family history and how they need to write down their own stories and experiences so that the people that come after them will be able to know how they lived their lives and experiences that they had.... and my grandpa has been writing in a journal every single day for the past 50 years!!!  He was even showing me his journals!  That's incredible!!!  He said that he would start recording his stories and then we can type it up later so that was awesome!  They even told me about all these books they have of pictures and stories from my ancestors in Norway so I'm super excited to see that!  Then we had weekly planning and then we went our dinner appointment with the elders! The food was delicious and we were laughing so hard our stomachs just hurt!!!!  They are so funny and we had so much fun with all of us!!!:)) 

Saturday

Today was insane!!! We got to the city and while I was asking this lady for her number so we could give her a church tour later... we discovered that our phone had been left in the apartment...and we didn't have time to go all the way back and be back in time for our appointment.... so all three of us were praying that we would either see the elders or a member with a car so that they could drive us back. We walk down the street and then I hear mommo  yelling at us from across the street!!!:))  Miracle!!!  So we ran over there and they drove us back so we could get the phone....waited for us...and then drove us to our appointment!! Seriously..miracle!!  We had språk with member in the ward which was really helpful and then we got on the bus to go to our dinner appointment. The dinner appointment was great!  The elders then drove us out to Kongsberg for our lesson with our investgators, (the family) and we taught them about the Plan of Salvation!  We had them reading their scriptures in Amharic so we knew that they fully understood...and we asked her to find Alma... and she knew where it was... and that it was in the middle which means she's been reading because we didn't tell her where it was!! Isn't that awesome!? They were asking great questions and the husband  said, "We have no choice but to follow God...you don't even choose that, you just do it" and we were talking about baptism and they are going to pray about the baptismal date that we extended to them!!!!! It was a wonderful lesson!  But we were cutting it close with the bus... and it was bus for train today... so there were no trains.... so we were booking it to the train station. We didn't know where we were going and Sister Reid said that she was "Led by the Spirit not knowing beforehand the things which she should do" haha!  We found it... but there was no bus so... we thought we were going to have to wait an hou...r but this bus driver was driving to Oslo and we must've looked distraught because he said he could drop us off in Drammen... and so we were the only 3 people on this way nice bus with curtains and lights and then we dropped us off in a roundabout in Drammen!  Talk about miracles!  It was a hectic day and the whole day it seemed like something was going wrong, but the Lord sure blessed us with miracles that day.  It is His work and He is not going to let us fail.  It was definitely a testimony builder of the Lord truly does prepare a way!  

Sunday

Today I gave a talk in church!  The bishop told me that I was getting pretty familiar with the podium since I was up at stake conference and then last Sunday for fast and testimony meeting and this Sunday with a talk!  And I am never nervous giving talks in sacrament on my mission!  I am literally so calm it's almost weird haha!  But I was giving a talk on John 11:25 and it went really well! Plus Sister Sorensen and Sister Reid did a musical number so it was just the sister missionaries as the center of sacrament meeting haha!  Then we had a quick meeting about less actives and then drove to a family in the ward for dinner and to skype our families!!! It was so nice of this family to let us skype with our families!! So grateful for that!   I loved talking to my family!! They are the greatest and the time went way too fast!!  But it was definitely the highlight of my day!  Then we took the bus home and did personal study!

Today

Today I don't actually know what we're doing!  So I'll write about it next week! Love you lots and miss you tons!!  Have a great week!

Since Kylee didn't send any pictures this week......I'll post some from their training in Oslo....taken by Sis. Hill

#46 20 started out real good!!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!

What can I say...this week has been another incredible week!  I know every single email starts out that way, but it doesn't change much when you are literally in the greatest and prettiest mission in the world!

Monday

Last Monday we ended up going on a hike with the Elders and it ended up being a trip down memory lane!  I got to see all the places that I hiked when I was a kid, and got to hike to the lake that I went swimming in countless times. The weather this week has actually been gorgeous and I've actually gotten tan!  So to all my friends that were laughing at me being white for 18 months...got ya! ;) After the hike we met with a less active and we watched "Mountains to Climb" and she is the coolest lady ever!  She is such a trooper and just meets life head on!  She always tells us that she just needs to do things "the viking way" and that will forever stick with me!

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and we were talking about Chapter 1 in Preach My Gospel about what it means to be a successful missionary and how to teach by the Spirit and how the gospel blesses families...it was a great discussion!  Then we had District lunch outside and it was beautiful weather!  My companions have already told me that I'm a sun worshipper but I've come to realize that that is a Norwegian thing...I guess I'm even more Norwegian than I thought haha!  But what can I say...I love the sun!!!  After that we went and pulled weeds for a sweet lady in our ward and we were baking in the sun and it was wonderful!  Then we had a dinner appointment with our investigator and a member in the ward and it was so much fun! We didn't have a chance to teach a lesson because  we had to get to the YSA activity.... but she has been reading in the Book of Mormon so that's awesome because that's the greatest tool of conversion anyway!  We went and played sand volleyball with the YSA down at Elveparken and that was so much fun!  I've gotten better at volleyball...guess all those P Days in Asker paid off! Haha!  But I'm definitley not ready for the Olympics quite yet...need a little bit more training!:)

Wednesday

Today our mission decided to have a selfie day and ask people to take selfies with the missionaries and use the hashtag #bookofmormonoslo, because the musical is coming to Oslo in September and so they wanted to get our faces out there so that people know who the actual missionaries are!  We were scared to death but then we decided to pull the American approach and that went a whole lot better because then they were like, "Oh well they are American...of course they want a selfie"  so we had a lot more success that way!:) It actually turned into a lot of fun even though we weren't a huge fan at the beginning!  We went to our dinner appointment, and they had a BBQ outside because you know...the SUN WAS OUT!!! I love this family and we always have the best time! We also played sand volleyball with the young women which was so much fun!

Thursday

Today we decided that we were going to do weekly planning outside...because THE SUN WAS OUT AGAIN!!! And that was just wonderful!  It was so nice to just be outside all day! The winters here are long and dark, so when the sun comes out you really, really appreciate it!!:))  Then we went to a family in the ward for dinner which was absolutely delicious and we shared the Mormon Message "He Lives" and then committed them to hand out a Book of Mormon!  So that was amazing and then we ended the day as we end every day...12 week!

Friday

Today we were going to have splits because they came Thursday night.. but then one of the sister missionaries had a tooth ache and had to go to the dentist right then... so splits didn't happen:(  So instead we decided to go out and contact and we were going to visit a less active,  but that fell through.  While we were out on the streets contacting we got a potential!!  So that was incredible!  I actually love contacting...sometimes it's a little hard to get going but then once I'm talking to people I absolutely love it!  Weird that I would love just talking to random strangers on the street huh! But then Sister Reid and Sister Sorensen said that my birthday weekend was starting so we had brown sugar and lemon salmon with rice and asparagus and fruit...talk about the most amazing dinner ever!  Wow!!!  So good! 

Saturday

Today we had breakfast with a family in the ward...and it was delicious!  It smelled like we were in America...eggs,bacon, rolls, pancakes!  Then we went to the church to help the ward deep clean the building and we were in charge of washing windows with the window squeegee thing.... and wow that was hard not getting stripes on the window...good  thing I wasn't thinking window washing as my career because that would've been a fail! After that  we had interview with President Hill which went really well!! Then we had studies outside!!!  By the river...wow that was so nice!  Reading the Book of Mormon by the river in Norway when it's all nice and green...that's amazing!! After that we started my celebration!! We met mommo and besse in town...and they took us to Lizzie's pizza!! ....then we had soft is and then went up to Spiralen which was so much fun!!!  I also got to go to the cemetery and put flowers down on my great-grandparens' grave. It was a great way to end the day!

Sunday

MY BIRTHDAY!! I was spoiled today!  My companions wrote a cute note and blew up balloons and then I had a wonderful birthday package from my family!  Every one was telling me happy birthday in church and two of my mom's friends  gave me  Dr. Pepper and chocolate for my birthday with a picture of me when I was little haha!  The ward spoiled me!! It was also fast and testimony meeting today...and besse was the first one to go up!! After that mommo went...then me!! I have to say we represented the family well:)))  After church we went to a family in the ward and they had made a cake for me.... and had candles and sang happy birthday!!! Sweetest thing ever!!  Then I got to talk to all my old companions that have become my best friends and that was a highlight of the day!  It was a wonderful Sunday and I felt so loved all day!  Then my companions told me 20 things they loved about me before I went to bed!! Wow...20 started out real good! 

Today

Today we are going on a hike with some YSA and the Elders!  I'll take pictures!!!

Thank you to everyone that sent birthday wishes!!!  Your love and support means the world to me!!!  Thank you thank you!!!  Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!


Lots of pictures this time!!!

#45 Gratitude and Miracles!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

THIS WEEK WAS A WEEK FULL OF MIRACLES!!! This week just flew by and this week also brought us into May which is the greatest month of the year... so our whole companionship is so excited!  We have splits this week, my birthday, interim training next week, 17 Mai, then we have Sister Reid's birthday and today is a holiday... so every single week is going to be so much fun from here on out!:)))  

Monday

Last Monday it was really bad weather.. so we literally just sat in the church all day.  Sister Reid is like Beethoven on the piano and then of course Sister Sorensen can sing super well... so they did their thing and I sat down and wrote letters!:) We had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward.. and that was a good visit!  We shared the Mormon Message "Same Jersey" like we shared with a lot of members last week... and we invited them to continue to invite people to church... because they are always inviting people which is incredible!!!  Then we went grocery shopping and that was that!

Tuesday

Today we had to get Sister Sorensen's oppholdstillatelse and then did studies. We had an appointment with a non member.   She is the friend of one of the members in the ward and that's how we got to know her.  We met with her and went to this little cafe on Bragernes Torg and then we read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. We went through the pictures in the front of the book.  She was really open to everything that we were teaching her and she was asking questions... but everything just made sense to her so it was awesome!  Then we hurried to the church to make brownies because we promised these little boys in our ward that if they read their scriptures every single day for the past week, that we would bring them brownies....and we had a dinner appointment with them.  But we didn't have time for the brownies to cook all the way... and honestly every time I've made brownies in this country... there has always been a problem!! So we were on the bus with all these rags holding this brownie pan.. and by the time we got there... the brownies looked like an earthquake because it was kind of cooked but then every time the bus driver stopped then it would all go to one side. They got a good laugh out of that!!!  But we had such a good time at the dinner appointment!  We had a blast!  We played a language game with the boys to help them learn Norwegian for school and then we showed the Same Jersey video again and then invited each of the parents to invite someone to church in 2 weeks!  We're hastening the work with the members! 

Wednesday

Today we had District Meeting and we talked about our power and authority as missionaries and then we all went around and answered these questions...what is our conversion story, why we came on a mission and what we want to accomplish while we are here.  It was cool to hear all of the missionaries conversion stories and it's something I've never really thought about since I've always been in the church... but everyone has their own conversion...so it was really cool to think back and kind of pin point it to when it started!  I figured out it was when I was 11, right after I had finished Faith in God! We went to our dinner appointment and we always have such a good time with this family!!!  We talked about the Book of Mormon and invited them to write their testimonies in the Book of Mormon and then to share it with someone! After that we learned a little bit about family history from the family history representative in the ward which was super helpful...and then we went on splits with the young single adults!  We went to visit less actives that are also YSA...Sister Sorensen went with two of the YSA and then one was supposed to come with Sister Reid and I but she didn't end up coming in time... so it was just us and we got the wrong address sent to us... so we just walked around and contacted people!:)

Thursday

Today we did weekly planning and our district leader asked us our goal for baptismal dates by the end of the transfer.  We said 3 and he was a little skeptical but we said that we could do it and we have been working so incredibly hard!  We even made a whole baptismal motivation wall in our apartment that I will take a picture of and send next week!  We made a goal to have 2 baptisms on May 27th which is totally possible because of the investigators that we have right now...so we are really excited!  So everyone pray for the work to progress in Drammen and for miracles to happen!  We went to our dinner appointment after that with two of the Elders... and that was a lot of fun as well!  The elders shared 2 Nephi 31:20 and talked about being steadfast and feasting on the words of Christ!  

Friday

Today we met with two girls from the ward and they helped us cut out hearts and write on them for two people in the ward, who were just having a hard time this past week... so that was a lot of fun!  They were finding their favorite scriptures and writing them on the hearts and it was great!!  Then we went and heart attacked one of the people right before our appointment with one of our less actives!  We met with her and talked about preparation for the temple and showed "A Temple is a Beacon" and talked about sacrifices that need to be made to prepare for the temple. She told us that she needed to stop smoking... so we came up with a plan and have a goal for her to be done with smoking by May 27th!  She was really excited that we were able to help her and she told us about her baptism day and when she had tried stopped smoking the first time. It was actually just a really powerful lesson and we are so glad that we are able to help her with this!  She also told us that she wanted us to help her with her Book of Mormon reading so we said we would call her every night at 9 to check up on her!  Then we heart attacked the other person and then we got on the bus. Sister Reid pretend to bus preach...we were the only ones on the bus haha!  But we had made a goal that we were going to invite two people to be baptized as a contacting approach today and that each of us were going to talk to 10 people.... and that we were going to talk to anyone we sat next to on the bus!  We have to be taking every opportunity we have if we are going to have 3 baptismal dates!  So we were talking to everyone that got on the bus or walked past us  today!  We got to the city and we still needed to talk to reach our goal... and it was pouring rain.... but we just put our hoods up and went and stopped so many people!  It was a blast!  Someone told me it was absurd that we believe someone left Jerusalem and came to America... and I asked this guy why.... and he said that we all know the first people were Indians.... and I asked him how he thought they got there....and then he said we know other people traveled by boat and I said exactly:) He then went to Joseph Smith because I think he realized his first point wasn't going anywhere.  By the time we took the bus home we still had one baptismal invitation left so we started knocking doors and I just invited someone on their doorstep! She wasn't interested but at least we know that for sure! :)))

Saturday

'Today we had soccer and we all know soccer gives me anxiety:))... because I'm literally the worst soccer player:) but we were there... and then we went to a family in the ward and heldped them paint their house and had dinner! It was a lot of fun!  Kind of chilly but we had a blast!  We went grocery shopping because all the stores are closed today! We also called our investigator and asked if he could still come to church and he said yes.... but that he couldn't take the train because they are out of work and just don't have money for their whole family... so we had to get the two of them plus their three boys to church!! We called a couple in our ward and asked if they were willing to drive to Kongsberg to pick up this family.... and we knew it was asking a lot... but they just said, "That we're  just going to have to pick them up...and she then said that she even had 3 car seats for the boys to sit in...and literally all of our mouths just dropped open!  WE WERE HAVING A FAMILY OF 5 COME TO CHURCH THANKS TO THESE AMAZING MEMBERS!!! We were so excited!  As soon as the call ended we just screamed!:)))  Then we called people in the ward to make sure that people could fellowship them and then we called our less active and she had read in the Book of Mormon and she said that it was exactly what she had needed..... and that she had only smoked 4 cigarettes when her goal was actually only 5... so it was even less!!  Again, we just screamed after the call ended!  We were so excited for everything that was happening and it was just miracles left and right.... and so we said a thank you prayer because we know it wasn't our doing!  It was the Lord's but I am sure grateful that I get a front seat to all these miracles!  It's priceless! 

Sunday

Today we had MMK and then we had church!  Watching that family of 5 walk into the church was literally the greatest moment! And our two less actives came to church and one of them got a calling today!!!! And then we sat behind our investigator family and then the opening song was "Families Can Be Together Forever" wow...we all just had to hold it together!  It was the coolest thing! I don't think I've ever smiled that much in my life while singing a hymn...it was literally perfect!  That was exactly why we were working so hard for this family and why members were making sacrifices to get them here...so that they can be together forever!  We taught them about the Plan of Salvation the third hour because they had a special meeting during that hour and they were asking questions and then Sister Reid asked the wife that if she received an answer would she be baptized and she said yes!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This family is a miracle!!! I also got to be there when Besse got the Melchizedek priesthood!!!!  Best Sunday ever!!!!! Then we had lunch and then did family history and I found so many names!!!!! It's incredible!!!!! Saving more souls!!! Then we had dinner later and did 12 week!!! Called our less active again and she still kept her smoking plan and read in the Book of Mormon again!!!! 

Today

Today we are going on a hike!! So that will be so much fun!!!

MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING IN DRAMMEN NORWAY AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words can't even explain how incredibly grateful I am to be a missionary!  This is the greatest work that I could ever be a part of and being able to see how the gospel literally transforms lives is priceless!  I know without a doubt in my mind that this gospel is true!!! God truly is the author of this work and we are only the instruments!  He knows every single one of us personally and He knows every single one of our needs, whether they be big or small.  He has a plan for each and every one of us and who better to have a plan for us than our loving Heavenly Father.  I'm so incredibly happy happy happy!!! 

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!!

Kylee went on a hike today with the other missionaries. This area is very special to us and we have so many memories from here!! I'm so grateful that Kylee had the chance to do this....for her it was like going back in time....and experience a little part of her childhood again:)