#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!

#71 So much love for the people of Norway

Hei Hei Hei fra Bergen! 

So I had to break out the winter coat yesterday, along with my headband, and my gloves, and the thickest scarf I own!  It is FREEZING!!  Welcome to Norway winter!  But despite the cold, we have had a great week and it's been another week of miracles!  Missions=Miracles!  

Monday

So last Monday we had interviews with President Hill... and then we spent the rest of the evening getting ready for Zone Conference... and Sister Stolp and I getting stuff ready for splits! 

Tuesday

Today was Zone Conference and Zone Conference is just a highlight of the transfer!  I love being able to see all the other missionaries that are in our zone!  It was a great zone conference!  We talked about how to be more effective teachers and how we can become like "The Master Teacher" who is Christ.  It was really good!  Sister Stolp and I did our presentation about the area book and phones and such and that was about it!  Then we went on splits with the Haugesund sisters, Sister Wheeler and Sister Horrocks!  We went to choir practice and practiced singing the songs that we are singing on Sunday!  While we were picking up their stuff from the city...I had the thought that I needed to call a less active back... so I did.... and she had told me that she had just received some terrible news and so I was on the phone with her for 30 minutes just listening.  I knew that when I came on my mission that I would grow to love the people, but I did not know how great that love was going to be.  I have had multiple experiences on my mission where I have been able to feel the love of our Heavenly Father for others and that's only a tiny bit of how much He truly loves us.  My heart was crushed and I could physically feel the heartache for this poor lady and it was a good reminder to me of just how much our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ loves us.  They love us with an unconditional love and we cannot even fathom it.  

Wednesday

Today we taught one of our investigators about faith in Jesus Christ.  The last lesson that we had with him didn't go super well, but we were teaching this lesson to see what was going to happen.  But when we were talking about Jesus Christ he had an excuse for absolutely everything that we said.  He was telling us that some horse had also walked on water and how there were many people with similar stories to Christ.  Right behind him during this lesson there were multiple pictures of Christ that were on the wall and I was listening to someone that was refusing to believe in Him, when Christ was standing with His arms reached out, ready to receive him as he always is.  We decided to drop this investigator because there is no progression, but maybe one day he will be ready!  Then we taught another investigator... the one that has a baptismal date... and we talked about how the word of wisdom was going... and he hasn't had coffee since we committed him not too!  We talked about tea and working on that and then he said that there were little things that he was working on to strengthen his faith... so we shared Mark 9 about "help thou mine unbelief" and it was a super good lesson!  Then we were out contacting and we only had time to talk to one who was a philosopher and that was just an interesting conversation!  Then I was back with Sister Hatch and we went and picked up our investigator and her son and we took the bybane to a member's house to have dinner.  It was such a fun dinner appointment and it was so good for our investigator to see what it's like to have the Spirit in a home!  It was awesome!

Thursday

Today was hysterical!  Just because every little thing that could go wrong today, just went wrong haha!  We taught an investigator and we watched Finding Faith in Christ and then watched the He Lives Mormon Message! We talked about faith and what it means and were able to share personal experiences with him and it was a super good lesson!  But he knows everything about the gospel and isn't willing to make all the sacrifices necessary to be baptized so we've decided to stop teaching him as well.  He still comes to church and activities and things, but we're here to teach the people that are ready to act!  And he will be ready one day, just not when we're the missionaries here. Then I looked up addresses and bus routes and thought I had everything under control... and then I realized that I hadn't written down any of the times that these buses went... and I also forgot my Book of Mormon in the church... oh and to top it all off, on the way to the city then I mustered up the courage to talk to someone on the bybane and guess what...he was deaf!!!:)).  Yep so here I was freaking out and then the guy can't even hear me! Well, that got a good laugh!  We got to our member appointment and couldn't even find the house so the member had to come out and find us! When we were there we shared a spiritual thought about missionary work and that went well thank goodness!  We went and visited another less active and they were the sweetest people!  They were playing the piano and accordion for us and it was such a nice visit!  We talked about prayer and it was super good! 

Friday

Today we taught one of our investigators and we taught her about the gospel of Jesus Christ! She was telling us that she identifies herself as a Mormon and feels at home there and that this is something that she wants to do.. but her husband isn't on board and she doesn't want to force it on him... so she is torn of what to do, but she is awesome!!!  She was going to try and come to church but she didn't make it:(  Then we did weekly planning and then we went and helped prepare the food for the ward party!  It was the 50 year celebration of the building of the church building and also celebrating the 1960's so we dressed up like hippies and had a party!  It was so much fun! 

Saturday

We taught the språk class and we taught them the birthday song in Norwegian.. and I just felt like a kindergarten teacher and it was pretty funny!  It was a good class though!  Then we went and visited a ward member who is 82 and lives out in the country!  I want to be her when I'm 82!  She has the coolest life story and someone needs to make a Mormon Message about her because she is a legend!  She was talking about her service in church and she said, "I can't sing and I can't dance and I don't have those type of talents, but I can help people!" and I loved that!  Then she said that ward members had asked her when she is going to retire and she said, "Retire from what?  From living?" and I LOVED THAT TOO!!  She looks at service as a way of life and I want to be able to serve in the way that she serves.  She is such a great example!  She also said, "Who you want to be, you are constantly becoming" I felt so uplifted!  Then we called potentials and we got an appointment with a potential that is super positive!!!  And then finished weekly planning!  

Sunday

Today we sang in sacrament meeting and all of our church meetings were super good!  I learned a lot!  Then our investigator came to church! We were talking about how God is a god of miracles and he turned to me after church and said, "I almost said that you were a miracle because you put me on the right path. You have somehow gotten me to read the Book of Mormon, to quit drinking coffee and all these different things. "  He then began talking about how he feels the Spirit every time he comes to church and that his baptismal date is no longer just a goal or a thing in the future...but that he wants to be baptized and that it is something that needs to be done!! I was so excited!!!  So baptism is on the way!!!!  Then we went home to eat and then we were meeting with the Jensons (the senior couple) after that!  It was a good Sunday! 

Today

Today we're thinking we might carve pumpkins with it being Halloween tomorrow!  So that could be fun! 

I love you all lots and miss you tons!!!  And as always, GOD IS GOOD!!!