#67 I love General Conference as a missionary!!

Hei Hei Fra Bergen!

This week has FLOWN by!  It was seriously probably one of the fastest weeks of my mission!  There has been so much stuff going on... and in and out of planes.... so it's been crazy... but it's been incredible as always! 

Monday

Last Monday we flew down to Oslo because we had First Transfer Training and that took up the rest of the night!  We stayed in the apartment with the Oslo Sisters so that was fun! 

Tuesday

Today we had First Transfer Training all day!  We had all sorts of presentations by President and Sister Hill and from the assistants.  Then we had break out sessions about transportation contacting, calling from the area book, banking, and something else! It was a lot of fun!  Then of course the highlight is being able to watch the Best Two Years!  I have seen that movie far too many times...I could quote that movie from beginning to end but it's still funny haha!  I loved being able to learn from the other missionaries that led the break out sessions and being able to see different ways to do missionary work!  Since we were in Oslo and there was a showing of the Book of Mormon Musical.... we had a chance to hand out Book of Mormons to people coming out of the play which was a super cool experience.  I love that the entire mission is so focused on the Book of Mormon because of the play and I have definitely gained a stronger testimony of it because of it!  

Wednesday

Today we had First Transfer for the majority of the day!  It was a couple more presentations and a few more break out sessions about asking questions, using the scriptures, extending commitments and how to begin teaching. Super good!  Then we flew home that evening!

Thursday

Today we were out of the apartment by 6:45 because we were going to a school to talk about the US in an English Class that a ward member taught.  So we talked about the things that are different here in Norway and in the US and they were asking us a few questions.  Then they had us speak Norwegian after we had spoken English the whole time and all their mouths just dropped when we could speak Norwegian too haha!  It was pretty funny! Then we had District Meeting and we talked about how to build the relationship with the ward and then we had 2 appointments.  One with a guy who has the baptismal date.  We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and he literally just takes it all in!  He had a few questions but he is so open to hear what we have to say and it's awesome!  Then we taught another guy and we taught him the Restoration. He had a few questions too but the ending of the lesson was so powerful!  We were testifying of the Book of Mormon and after that he was telling us that he would read every single day.  It was incredible!  

Friday

Today we went on splits with just the sisters in our apartment so I was with Sister Wheeler all day and we were cracking ourselves up all day!!! We were able to teach an investigator who I taught earlier with Sister Bennett and so that was super fun to be able to teach her again!  She is golden!  Then we were going to teach our atheist friend but he cancelled...so then we went and taught another investigator that I taught before... and that was quite an adventure in the lesson!  The elders came with us on the teach and it was just funny!  It was a good lesson but it didn't go as planned! Then we went and played sport! 

Saturday

Today we taught språk and then the rest of the weekend was Conference!  I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE AS A MISSIONARY!!! I wish I could watch General Conference as a missionary for the rest of my entire life!  It was INCREDIBLE!  I loved every single talk (I haven't seen the last session yet) and there was something that really touched me in every single one!  I don't even think I can pick a favorite!  I LOVED the one from Hallstrom about miracles and then I LOVED the one from Renlund about God's plan and agency. I LOVED Eyring's talk and I loved Women's conference and I just loved it all!  My heart was so full!  That is what eternal and everlasting happiness is!  The GOSPEL!  I can't even put into words how I felt as I was watching conference!  I can't put into words how much I love this gospel or how deeply I know it to be true.  I had gone into General Conference with questions that I wanted answered and I love being able to see God's direct guidance from his chosen apostles.  There were so many talks that really got me thinking...especially Eyring's talk.  I just want to be that person that will drop anything and everything to serve.  I want to serve like Christ would if He were here.  I want to exemplify Him in how I help and serve those that are around me.  It made me think of the quote from Marjorie Pay Hinckley, " I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know that I was really here and that I really lived."  I want to be that person and I'm so incredibly grateful for the gospel, for the prophet and apostles, and the love of the Lord that has given us a way to become who we want to become and more importantly, become who God wants us to be.  I love this gospel with my whole heart.  It is the most precious thing in the world to me and I'm so glad that I get to share it with the people who I have come to love here in Norway.

Love you lots and miss you tons!

Thanks to Sis. Hill's blog...I have some pictures to share:)) These are from the zone conf. in Stavanger