#36 As a missionary...nothing goes as planned!

GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDD MMMMMOOOOOOORRRRNNNNIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGG VIETNAM!!! Just kidding!  More like Good Morning from Drammen, but you know// I just had to spice up how I start my emails!  I'm getting bored with my own "Hei Hei"!  

Monday

So last Monday we did end up playing Around the World Ping Pong.. and we played Horse too...not too good at basketball but you know..what else is new?! We updated our phone because that was a mess and then tried to get appointments for this week! 

Tuesday

So as a missionary you plan for every single moment of the day...nothing went as planned today..that is one thing I have learned as a missionary.  Nothing goes as planned!!:)  But you learn very quickly to laugh it off which is a good thing!  We had an appointment with a new investigator at noon and then she texted us an hour before and said that she wasn't going to be able to make it. We're meeting with her this coming week so hopefully that is better!  So we decided to go contacting instead and the first man I stop looks at my tag and says, "Søster Love. Jesu Kristi Kirke av Siste Dagers Hellige.  Do you even know what your doing?  Do you even think?" I was so taken off guard that I just began, well attempted to start a conversation and he very quickly interrupted and told me that I had been brainwashed and that what I believed in was just a fairy tale.  Now, first of all...there is nothing that bothers me more than when other people tell me what I believe!!  But even though he wasn't going to listen to me I just told him, "I'm sorry that you think that but I know that what I believe is true" we then said goodbye and then were on our way.  We just walked across the bridge because both me and Sister Cook needed to cool down for a minute hahaha! I was so mad! But, we just laughed it off:)  I prayed that we would be able to talk to some friendly people... and we had a good conversation with a 90 year old lady...we just talked about the sun and how good it was that young people are involved in helping others and believe in Christ!  That was a breath of fresh air after what we just went through.  The people we talked to the rest of our time contacting were all so friendly and even though they weren't interested, they still respected what we were doing and we had a nice chat!  Then we had another appointment but he cancelled on us... so we went home for dinner!  Then we were going to teach a lady... but we got there and her son said she wasn't home so that didn't happen either...so that was really sad!  So we went home after that! Like I said...as a missionary...nothing goes as planned!:)

Wednesday

Today we had an appointment with a member.. and she is the sweetest lady ever!!!  She made us waffles and we just talked about how she had found the church and the role that it played in her life.  We shared the story of Abinadi and how Abinadi thought no one had listened to him. Alma was the ONE that listened...and because of him over four hundred people were baptized!  We talked about how it all happened because of the ONE and how we need to be able to be ready to help that ONE.. because you never know the affect that it could have.  It was such a good visit!!! Then we did our studies at the church and then the elders picked us up to go to a family in the ward for dinner and it was great!!  The family is so much fun!!  The Elders shared a  spiritual thought about faith and acting on faith and it was a great visit!  After that we went and played volleyball with the young women and young men.  They were all  practicing for Balliaden (Youth Conference)  (and everyone knows that mom is really good at volleyball so they expect the same thing out of me) but I'm just a disappointment! Oh well!:))

Thursday

Today we had zone conference in Oslo with the people in the east zone and that was so much fun!!!  It's always fun to see people that you haven't seen in a while... and everyone knows everyone because we are such a small mission!  So I saw Sister Petersen (her friend from EFY and first companion) and got to talk to her for a while so that was a blast!!  We went over the missionary broadcast and discussed it, role played and then had lunch and dessert with everyone!  We also said good bye to the Brostroms because they are leaving in March... and that's just super sad!!  I love the Brostroms!!! I will never forget all their Sunday dinners and chats...and my amazing Christmas! When Zone Conference was done, we went back to Drammen and went on splits with two sisters in the ward. I went with a sister... and we went and visited her grandma and went shopping for groceries since the grandma can't do it by herself. Then we just sat and chatted with her for a little while.  So much fun!  Love going on splits with members!  It's a blast!! 

Friday

Today we did weekly planning, had diinner... and then met with a lady in the ward. We talked about the temple and the blessings and the why behind it all.  It was a super good lesson and the Spirit was so strong!  I really miss being able to attend the temple so often!  But it was so fun to teach her about it!  Then we went home and invited people to come to church!

Saturday

We had a street stand today and gave out free hot dogs and focused on the Plan of Salvation!!  It was so successful!  We got 3 numbers from it and we had so many good conversations and lots of plan of salvation pamphlets were handed out!  It was a blast! I loved being able to focus on the plan of salvation and it truly is the plan of happiness!  I absolutely love it!  I love being able to bear testimony to people on the street that we can be with our families forever and that we are here on earth to have joy and prepare to live with God again!  What better message could you be sharing!  Then that evening we went to dinner with all the missionaries to a family in the ward... and they are the funnest family!  We of course had a competition to see who could do the plank the longest...and I was not the first loser!:))  We watched the talk from David A. Bednar from last general conference and then talked about how sometimes we need to sacrifice worldly things to come to know Christ better.  It was a great and way fun visit!  Then we studied with the time that we had left in the day!

Sunday

One of our potentials from the street stand came to church and he stayed all 3 hours!!!  It was the coolest thing to be able to sit next to him in sacrament meeting!  He read the sacrament prayers from Moroni in the Book of Mormon while the sacrament was being passed and read the words to the hymns as we were singing them!  It's the coolest thing to watch them experience the gospel even for just the first time.  The gospel makes you come alive!  (1 Nephi) and it's the greatest blessing and is a reminder for me of just how amazing and joyful this message is!  We talked about the Plan of Salvation in Sunday School with him and then one of the members did an AMAZING job fellowshipping him!!! Thank heavens for member missionaries!! We got an appointment with him for this week!! After church we had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward. The dinner was delicious and we had so much fun with them! It was such a relaxing dinner appointment and it was fun to just sit and talk with them!! Then we went home and did studies for the rest of the evening.

Today

Today we are going bowling!! Whoo!! And after that....who knows what! We have two appointments tonight that hopefully go as planned....so that will be good!!

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

1-6 Zone Conf

4 Kylee and Sis Brostrom

5 Kylee and friend from EFY

6 Kylee and Sis. Missionary 

7 View from her apartment

8 Drammen

9-11 Hot dogs and free Book of Mormons:)

12 Kylee by the town's main bridge

13 Kylee and her companion

#35 God is good all the time

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

Guess what everyone!? The sun came out AGAIN!! MULTIPLE times this week even!  And I'm convinced that the fact that the sun came out and that God is good all the time, that is why we had the greatest week ever!! 

Monday

So last Monday we went and got Kebab with our District and it was actually really good! We came back to the church and played "Around the World Ping Pong" and that is the most hilarious game with our District!  We were all laughing so hard that we were just about in tears!  Funniest thing! Sister Cook and I shared a Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream and it tasted like America!:)) We headed home after P-Day and continued to work in our area book! 

Tuesday

Today was the day that the SUN came out!!!:)) We went out and contacted people in the city and almost every single person we talked to wanted to stand and chat!!:)  It was because the sun was out I swear!  The first person we talked to, we talked about the Plan of Salvation and what happens to us after we die and gave him the pamphlet for it, and that was probably a 15 minute conversation! We talked to a few others that weren't interested.. but still friendly conversations... and then we talked to another guy that was actually Muslim... but he was so interested to hear about what we believed about Christ. We explained the Atonement and gave him the pamphlet too! After that we met with a lady who we found in our phone. We had our lesson with her and just got to know her a little bit.  She is from Kenya and is the only one from her family here in Norway.  She is very religious and literally everything she talked about is what our church believes!  She talked a lot and is super friendly and sweet and we are so excited to teach her!  Then we caught our bus to go to dinner at a members house and we watched Finding Faith in Christ with them and that was great!  They are the coolest family!! 

Wednesday

We had District Meeting today and I was teaching the doctrine portion this time!  We talked about the Book of Mormon and how we need to use it against objections and that if one truly believes the Book of Mormon then there is nothing else holding them back from gaining a testimony. If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet and so on and so forth.  We also talked about how if someone really believes the Bible, then they would believe in the Book of Mormon... because it talks about it in the bible! We tried to visit a former investigator but she wasn't home so then we tried to visit another former investigator, but we will just have to go back to both!  We had a lesson with another new investigator... and we taught him about God and about prayer!  He said the closing prayer in the lesson and it was the coolest experience!!  The Spirit was so strong!  It really puts into perspective the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father when we invite investigators to pray... and it's one of my favorite parts of teaching a lesson!  After that we went to Young Womens and continued to work on their High School Musical songs!  They're pretty good if I do say so myself!

Thursday

Today we met with former investigators to figure out if they were interested in learning more or if they were done. They were honest and told us how confused they were with everything and so they are just going to take things on their own.  But we hope they come back one day!  We also met with a new investigator and taught him about the Plan of Salvation!  He had lots of ideas and deep deep questions so it was quite the lesson... but it was good..and we're teaching the Restoration this week! After that appointment we had our studies for the day because we had to leave early in the morning... and then we went and visited our neighbors!  It was her birthday the next day so we had made brownies and had a little birthday celebration!  It was so fun!!

Friday

Today we had weekly planning and then worked in the area book...every single former in that area book has been contacted now!!  Yes!!! We got quite a few that are interested in meeting and then a ton that aren't interested, but we found the ones that are prepared within the mix!  We had dinner and met with a lady in the ward and watched Meet the Mormons with her... and it was so cool!  She told us how she could relate with all these people and told us how big of a blessing the gospel is in her life and how it was all changed because of the missionaries. The last part in Meet the Mormons is about a missionary so of course that made us cry!  The Spirit was so strong and it was a super cool experience!  

Saturday

Today we went to a sweet family in the ward for breakfast!! Delicious! We walked all the way up the Stenseth hill!  Now none of you guys know what this hill even looks like but it's basically a neighborhood on a mountain so we sure got our workout with that one!  We watched the silent interview of Christ with them and it was such a good visit!  We did our studies for the day because we had to travel this morning and then we went to my grandparents!  We had a way good dinner and then we showed the mormon message about the blessings of the temple and how they can look forward to that and being sealed in the temple!  It was such a good lesson and so fun to hear the excitement!  Temples are truly the biggest blessing and the blessing that we can be with our families forever is amazing!! Because of temples and God's authority and power on the earth, it's all possible!!  That in itself is the greatest message anyone could share! 

Sunday

We had MMK and church today and then we did our studies, had our meal times and then went through the whole area book and organized it all. We sent messages and gave referrals to other missionaries in the mission and what goes around comes around because we got a referral!  So that's super exciting too!  More people to teach!!! 

Monday

Today we are emailing and honestly probably playing ping pong again because we had a blast last time:))!!! 

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

1. From Drammen

2. Splits in Skien

3. View from the apartment

4. Studying and late dinner

5.My little Viking:)

6.Too much fun at the bus stop

7.Two girls having a lot of fun:)

8. Kylee and Sis. Cook

9. "Oh how I loooove the sun!!"

#34 Sunshine and splits to Skien

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

This week absolutely FLEW by! It was another great week and guess what everyone!? The sun still exists and it came out yesterday and it's out again today! That's 2 days in a row!! So this week is fantastic!  Still freezing cold but there is a sun in the sky!!:))

Monday

So last P-Day we just went home and called through our phone and we got appointments from it!  I think we had 3 or 4 appointments that we got from calling, so that was a big blessing!  Miracles do happen!  Things are looking up!

Tuesday

We had a mission wide WebX and then we had District Meeting and talked about what we want the culture of Drammen to be!  It was good! After that we had district meeting and then we had all of our studies, because we had to catch the bus early today. We watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration and that is literally one of my favorite movies!  It's so good!! You just watch it and just know that Joseph Smith was a prophet that was called of God to restore the church. When you have time, just watch it!  We also listened to a BYU talk called "Remember Lot's Wife" and that's another way good one that you should listen to when you have time! After our studies we went to this family in our ward...they live far away...but it was such a good visit!!  We shared the Testimony of the Book of Mormon by Holland and then we invited them to read Moroni 10 and actually..you guys should just watch that video too:)) Then we had an appointment with a potential!!  Who actually cancelled just an hour before our appointment... so we decided to call people instead and see what other appointments we could get!

Wednesday

We had an appointment today!!! We met with a guy who we had found in our phone and area book!  He has had a few lessons with the missionaries before, but said that he was willing to meet with us again.:)  Our MMK came with us on the teach and it was really good!  We spent the majority of the time just getting to know him and then asking him what he thought about God.. and that took up the rest of the time.  He had a lot of different ideas that he explained and wants to know how everything works! It was funny because Sister Cook later said that that is how she would've been if she was an investigator... so maybe this will something positive and great!! After our appointment we had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward! It was a great visit and we had  a lot of fun!  Then we went to the church to go to Young Women's... and the girls had to write their own young women songs to the tune of two High School Musical songs.... and it was hilarious!  We were made as the scribes because they wanted to do it in English and it was so funny!!:))

Thursday

Today we did weekly planning and then called through our area book and we got another appointment for this coming week, hopefully today actually but we will see!! So that was successful!  We had dinner before we took the train down to Skien... which is a two hour ride... because we had splits! Oh funny story...so we couldn't find the keys right before we were going to the bus so Sister Cook says, "Okay...prepare yourself heavens.  You're about to be opened" Haha!:))) So this day just flew by!!

Friday

Today we were in Skien all day!  I went with Sister Nielsen for the first half of the day and we went with the Elders to go and visit a less active. She was just the cutest little lady!  We just sat and talked about all sorts of random things and then we shared the scripture in 3 Nephi when Christ introduces himself to the Nephites!  It was so cool to hear what she thought about Christ and the role that He plays in her life even though she has been struggling with coming to church.  Then we went with Sister Claridge and Sister Cook on a ferri to go and have our dinner appointment with a family. They were a fun and crazy family!:)) Then me and Sister Claridge were supposed to teach a lesson, but he cancelled on us, so we traveled back to the apartment and called through the area book. We had splits review...while eating peaches and this yogurt thing (it's like Danimal for adults) and it was delicious!  

Saturday

Saturday morning we left to go back to Drammen... so I spent that time reading the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is just the coolest thing ever!  I feel like I'm just a sponge trying to soak it all up when I'm reading it!  It's incredible and testifies of everything that this gospel is! We had interview with President Hill and that was great!! He told me that our old neighbors' niece got called to Norway!! Crazy small world!!  Then we went and contacted. We had planned a Meet the Mormons night so we had invited potentials and a less active and had gotten food and such...but no one showed up. I have to say I was really disappointed...but, we watched it as a District and it was great!! Way good movie!!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and then we had church... and I learned so much in church today!  I have a goal to take notes in each of the meetings..so that will be cool!.it  I absolutely loved church today!  We had a dinner appointment..with the elders..at a member in the ward's house. She is just the greatest!! She told us how she wants to invite less actives, investigators and whoever over for dinner when we come for dinner so that she can get to know them too... and that we are more than welcome to use her house for teaching!  She is the sweetest and we appreciate the member help so much!!  After the dinner appointment we went and visited two single sisters in the ward and had so much fun!  We watched the Mormon Message "Where Justice, Love and Mercy Meet" (SO GOOD!) and talked about how Christ will never let us fall and how He has always been and always will be with us in the hard times and in the good!!

Today we have no plan for the P-Day so who knows!  But it will be great because THE SUN IS OUT!!! 

Love you all lots and lots and miss you tons!!  Also...HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! Go tell people you love them...after all I am Sister Love!!  Ohh so funny!  Making jokes about my own name!!

Kylee took some beautiful pictures of Drammen

A member sent this pictures of Kylee and her companion

#33 Heavenly Father counts the tears, each and every one

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!! 

Monday

So last Monday we walked around a few stores in Bragernes Torg and then we went to a less active's house here in Drammen with Elder Jefferies and Elder Johnson...because she had some canned fish from Sweden...that sounds like a lame story. It's basically like rotten fish in a can and you have to open it outside because it smells so bad!!!... but the elders and my companion wanted to try it, so I was in charge of video taping them:) There was no way that I was putting something that smelled that bad into my mouth!!:)) so I just watched them gag instead!:))   After that event we went back to the apartment and called people in the phone!! 

Tuesday

Today was a day filled with trying to find investigators which is actually just everyday!  But anyway, we walked around in a different area today because we were trying to not just go in the same spot. We talked to a few people...we met this super sweet old lady and just talked to her for a little bit and then continued on.  There were barely any people outside so we decided to go bus contacting. The bus was packed so I asked one lady if I could sit next to her and then I asked where she was headed to strike up a conversation.  The minute I said that she just said, "What religion are you?" because she had seen my missionary tag.  I then had the lady across from me talk about how she told the missionaries to never come back to her house and then the lady next to me started talking about all the other churches and how we're just "another one":)) So I responded by complimenting the similarities and slipping in my defenses because what they were saying wasn't true... so that was a fun little bus ride!  But I gave them a mormon.org card so I guess you never know!  A little bit later we had an appointment with just the cutest little lady ever!  She had warmed up cinnamon rolls and then I helped her with her family history for a little bit and then shared the scripture in Alma about none of the souls being lost to our Heavenly Father. She told us about her baptism and it was such a great visit!  We ended the day with the usual calling!!  Need to get through those potentials!

Wednesday

So today was a rough day for me!!! To make a looong story short...I got a phone call from my old area and they told me that we had "lost" our new convert!! She had removed her name.  I was heartbroken!!  I called and talked to her for a little bit, but she hung up on me. My companion and I even took the train to my old area, knocked on her door, but no luck! My companion then told me to just go and pray and so that's what I did, but I just broke into tears!  It was a huge testimony builder to me that our Father in Heaven counts the tears, each and every one.  But also, that He truly does hear and answer every prayer, even if it's not audible.  It made me think too how much our Heavenly Father truly cares and loves each and every one of us.  And also how much our Savior loves us.  We know that He would leave the 99 to go and find the 1. I did think that it was my fault at the beginning but I've thought back on it and when we baptized her she was ready. We taught her and we had so many amazing and spiritual experiences and I know that she knew the gospel was true and I did everything in my power to help... but at this point, it is in the Lord's hands and in His timetable and there is nothing I can do about it, so I'm just going to hand it to Him.  We had a dinner appointment with a super sweet family in the ward that we don't actually know the last name too...but we know their first names so that's great!  We talked to their 11 year old daughter and she loves practicing her English with us, and she had started talking about Leonardo Dicaprio and then she just turns and says, "You know...I just like him" and we just burst out laughing!  We then had a delicious dinner and I even learned how to count to ten in French!  We then talked to them about missionary work and the 11 year old is talking to people at school about the Book of Mormon and talking about the missionaries!  How awesome is that!?!? She is fantastic!!! 

Thursday

Today we had District Meeting with our new District!  Elder Nelson is our District Leader and he is from Lehi, Utah and that's actually all I know about him haha!  We also have Elder Mitchell as one of our new Zone Leaders and he is from Saratoga Springs, Utah so we have lots of mutual friends so it's a blast!  We talked about the Book of Mormon and studies in District Meeting and it was really good!  Then we had District Lunch!  Then after that we did weekly planning and then we had an appointment with our neighbors!  We played the same card game that we always do and I literally lose every single time (go figure) and then had lasagna which was delicious! 

Friday

Today we had language study with one of my old friends and it was a blast!!  We read in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 11) and she helped us with our pronunciation and then we had her help us with vowel pronunciation and spelling!! Then we just spent the last little bit and just talked and caught up with what had happened in the past couple weeks!  So much fun!!  We then tried to print out a talk for a former investigator but the printer wasn't working, so we decided to go and try and visit a less active but she wasn't home, and then the girl who we had an appointment with asked us to come earlier!:)  So we went to her house and talked to her and her roommate, and it was so much fun! She showed us pictures from her mission and what she had made on her mission with talks and things and it was awesome!  We then watched the Silent Interview of Christ and asked them to write their testimonies in the Book of Mormon so that we could hand it out!  Great visit and so much fun!  Then we headed home and had dinner and then of course...more calling and working on the area book!!

Saturday

So we got asked to teach Sunday School and Relief Society... so we spent today preparing those lessons which was actually super fun!!  We are so excited to teach it!! After that we went to my grandparents's house and had a delicious dinner and dessert!! We talked about joy and how we are on this earth to experience joy and how that plays into the Plan of Salvation.  It's called the Plan of Happiness for a reason!!  It was a great lesson!!  Then we went and visited another member in the ward, and we watched the Silent Interview of Christ with her too.. and she was so touched by it!  It was incredible!!  If you haven't watched it yet, then you need to go and look it up!! We asked her to write in a Book of Mormon too!! Then we went to have the Elders print out a talk for our lesson for us and by the time we got home the day was over!

Sunday

Today was fantastic!!! We had a great Fast and Testimony meeting and then we talked about Charity in Sunday School which turned into a super cool lesson and there were a lot of awesome thoughts given!  Then we went and taught Relief Society which is the one that we were really excited about! We hoped to get the Relief Society excited about missionary work!!!  We watched Members and Missionaries and had them write down 10 names that need the gospel and pick one that they were going to contact this week!!  We then read parts of our mission calls and had a few of the relief society sisters stand up and read their "own" mission call saying that they were called to be member missionaries in the Norway Oslo Mission.  Super cool lesson and we had us all crying so it was great!!:))  After church we went to Break the Fast with the youth which was super fun and we got to get to know the youth a little bit better!  When we got home we had our language study and personal study and also called people and guess what!!?!? WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT!!!!! It was a total Best Two Years moment...I was on the phone and it was on speaker phone so my companion could hear his side of the conversation too... and he said he could meet and we set up the appointment and then we hung up and just yelled "YES!!!" and then jumped up and down!! Haha!!  Good times!! 

Today

Today we are emailing and then going to Gulskogen center and then who knows what else...we want to go up to Spiralen one of these P-Days so maybe that will be next week!!

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

Kylee's apartment...some of the her companion took before Christmas
Kylee has been out for 7 months!!

#32 Trondheim was a blast!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!

Well this week is the same 'ol, same 'ol...just as fantastic as last week!!:)

Monday

So last Monday we played Banangrams...again! We had a blast!! We headed to the train station to take the Flytog to Oslo and then we got on our flight from Oslo to Trondheim!!! The flight was only 45 minutes and we just slept the entire way:) When we to Trondheim we got on another Flytog and went to another train station where the sisters picked us up.  We didn't get in until almost 9 o'clock and we hadn't even dinner... we were starving!!  so toast with peanut butter and jam was dinner!

Tuesday

Full day in Trondheim!!  I went with Sister Neilson first and we went out and contacted people on a path right next to a river which was super pretty... and people up there just stopped and talked to you..even if they weren't interested in the gospel! They were very friendly!  After talking to 3 people  we handed out a Book of Mormon, so that was super cool! After that we had District Meeting with their district and talked about how we can find, retain, and activate all at the same time. We did a practical with a street stand which was nice, because we had a street stand planned for Saturday too!  Then the missionary couple up there made us lunch and it was delicious! After lunch Sister Neilson and I updated their progress report for investigators and then we went out and contacted again. We saw Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Built over the burial site of Saint Olav, the king of Norway in the 11th century, who became the patron saint of the nation) and the ByBrua ( Gamle Bybro was constructed by Johan Caspar von Cicignon in 1681 in conjunction with the reconstruction of Trondheim after the great fire of 1681) Super pretty and just a cute town!  Met a lot of just super nice people, really friendly!  I was able to understand the people up there too!  There were a couple of sentences where you just nod your head and smile because you're not sure what was said, but for the majority I was good!  Then we headed back to the church and met with a girl who is our age, is a new convert, and preparing to go on a mission! We taught her about tithing, fasting, and paying both of those.  Really cool lesson and I've had many experiences with both tithing and fasting so it was a good opportunity to be able to share those!  Then we did språk study and then I went out with Sister Ralphs and a member from the Trondheim ward.....and we visited a less active. We contacted a couple of people on our way back home and then had pizza for dinner and then splits review!  We had a lot of fun with them and it was a blast seeing Trondheim!

Wednesday

Today we left the apartment at 6:40am  to catch our train to the airport. We got to the airport way before our flight was supposed to leave, so we got some breakfast and then we got a couple of things from the tourist shop up there! When we were on our way to the airport our train stopped in Hell, Norway...so I had to get a postcard of that too haha! Sister Cook and I got a laugh out of that one!  Then we hopped on the plane and slept again which made the plane ride go so fast!  When we got back to Drammen  we went out and contacted people.. and we were determined to find people.  We don't have investigators right now and we are trying to find them... but no one is listening. We contacted people and handed out Book of Mormon cards... and then we tried visiting a less active who didn't answer. So before we went out and contacted again... we decided to say a prayer. We said that Heavenly Father can not not bless us if we talk to absolutely everyone... so that is what we did!  We found one person who was English speaking and said she wanted to come to our church... so we have contact with her... so pray that she becomes an investigator!  We also met a guy that promised us that we would see him in church one day, so pray for that one too! We talked to two people and those conversations were my favorite!:)  First off, there was one guy that I talked to and I started flipping through the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon..I didn't get through them all before he said he needed to go and then pulled out his necklace and told me that he was orthodox.  I told him that that was great but that he was still welcome to come to church.... and guess what...he said that he lived next door to the church!! So he took the Book of Mormon and the card!  Then this one is my absolute favorite!! Sister Cook and I stopped this one lady and after asking her a couple of questions she told us that she knew a lot about the Mormon church and that she knew about the Book of Mormon and that we don't need it.  I told her that it wouldn't make sense for God to speak to us for thousands of years and then suddenly become silent...so in my head I had the thought to say that it talks about the Book of Mormon in the Bible, but I didn't know where that reference was! Then it kind of just came out and she said, "Well that I would like to see" She then continued to tell us how she knew more about the bible than most! Sister Cook was already flipping through the pages to find the reference.  Sister Cook then read it out loud and this preacher just goes quiet.  Then after a little bit she said, "Well I don't think that is talking about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon" and then we gave her a card and she walked away...but we literally made a Norwegian preacher go silent!:) It was one of our favorite parts of the day!!!!!! Then we walked to the church which was a long walk (2 miles) and then got dinner and watched the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast! It was great!!

Thursday

Today we had District Meeting with our own District and a returned missionary girl was with us which was super fun!  We talked about humility and how to have humble confidence as a missionary! We did practicals and practiced teaching the Restoration which was super helpful! After our meeting the elders drove us to our dinner appointment. We shared 1 Nephi 13:37 talking about missionary work and committed them to do missionary work... they are already doing a ton which was awesome!  There are so many members doing missionary work but they never say anything unless you ask them about it, so it was super fun to hear their stories and hopefully get the work here in Drammen moving again!  Then the Elders picked us up after their appointment and drove us to the church where we went to a member in the ward. We just talked and got to know her!  She hasn't been in church for a little bit so we  all just met her for the first time and it was so much fun!  She showed us her art and she is super good at it, so we talked about having a craft day one of these days!

Friday

Today we did weekly planning at the church and then we went to our dinner appointment which was so much fun! The mom has served a mission in England so she is always asking us about our missionary work and giving us advice. She is truly engaged in missionary work and always asks us how she can help! She was so nice and drove us to the church where we called a bunch of potentials and we got a few people who are interested and AN APPOINTMENT FOR TONIGHT!!! So I'm hoping and praying that that one will be good and that it will happen because we need investigators!!!

Saturday

Today we had our street stand on Bragernes and oh my goodness was it freezing!  I mean I know this is Norway and that it's cold, but today was bitter cold and it didn't matter how many layers you had on...it just was cold!!!!  Almost painful!  There weren't too many people out, but we gave out free waffles...so many people just took the waffle and left...other people talked and took a Book of Mormon...others were scared to take the waffle because they saw the Book of Mormon... and then others didn't want a waffle:)) We were out there from 12-4 and then we went to grandma and grandpa for dinner where we had hot dogs and krone ice cream which was delicious!  We also watched a video on the sacrament and then broke down the sacrament prayers which was a really cool experience!  I love teaching them!! and grandpa is doing great with the new convert lessons!!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and church and then we went to our dinner appointment with a family in the ward. They have never had the missionaries over before but we went there today!  We played with their little boy on this car track thing and then had dinner and then shared 1 Nephi 13:37! We talked about missionary work and she is also doing missionary work that might turn into a referral later on, so that is super exciting!  Both of them are returned missionaries too so that's super cool!  Then we tried to go and visit a friend of Tante's (her aunt)!  We had the hardest time finding it and so we walked out in the snow for a while trying to find which street was connected to what, but we eventually found it!  We were able to talk to her for a little bit and just had a casual conversation..it was super hyggelig!  I don't even know what the word for that is in English!  But it was awesome! Then we went home and had companionship and language study and then Mac & Cheese because we were hungry! 

Today

Today we are emailing and there was transfer announcements today... so Sister Cook and I are still here in Drammen and then we are getting Elder Nelson and Elder Mitchell in our District and Elder Mitchell went to Westlake too (Her high school)!!! Small world!!

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!

#31 Finding the one

Hei Hei Fra Drammen!!!

This week was another amazing week as usual! So I'm just going to jump right into it:)

Monday

So last P-Day all of the missionaries and the MMK went to Max and got lunch and that's the closest thing you can get to American food over here so it was delicious!  Then after that we literally played Bananagrams our entire P-Day!  It's hilarious how into we get... but it's a blast!  We'll probably end up playing it today too!  We went and visited the people down the street again that aren't interested in the church..but we went and had dinner with them and then played cards:) I didn't lose every single game this time so that was exciting! They seriously take such good care of us and they are so so nice!!

Tuesday

Today we looked up addresses to referrals that we had received and then planned on going to go and visit all of them. But,  we got ice rain...yes that is a thing.  The entire city was covered in ice, there were 10 accidents from the sentrum to the church and the buses were no longer going... so that destroyed our plans! So we were trapped in the church for a little while but we helped the ZL's with Zone Conference so that was fun!  A girl in the ward bought us all pizza which was super nice of her since none of us had had dinner!! Later that day we made it out of the church and headed to Bragernes, because one of the members was going to help us with språk (language). We basically had to skate anywhere anytime we were outside! The street outside our house was so bad that my companion and I had to sit on our butts and slide down the sidewalk to get home!!:)) You couldn't walk anywhere! 

Wednesday

ZONE CONFERENCE!!! Zone Conference was a blast and it was so so good!  I absolutely loved it and I learned so much!  We talked about how we can find investigators through members and service...because this is kind of a finding mission...we are out trying to find all. the. time!  So it was super good!  Then the AP's talked about språk (language) study and how we can improve it... and they put up a whole program for us on the mission website!  Then we said goodbye to some investigators that they had before I got here because they are moving back to Africa... and then we went to a members house!  It was a super quick visit but we shared a scripture from 2 Nephi and talked about Christ and how we want other people to feel that same joy of knowing that Christ lives. We invited them to talk to other people about the church and then committed them to hand out the Finding Faith in Christ DVD... so I'm excited to see how that goes!  Trying to find through members! After that we went to a dinner appointment with the Elders and it was hilarious! We played a game to help us with the language and that was also just funny!  Plus the food was great!  

Thursday

Today was the greatest! One of my favorite investigators from Asker, that I have gotten to know really well, wanted to come down to Drammen and take me and my companion out to lunch!!  So we met her around noon and she took us to one of the super nice restaraunts that are on Bragernes Torg,and we had pizza and fancy dessert which I also took a picture of!  We just sat and chatted, looked through my pictures from home, and had such a fun time! She is literally the greatest!  It was so fun for me to have her come and visit and she was telling me that she will be back again!  She treats us like her daughters and was telling me that when I come back to Norway to visit then I can just stay at her house!  So sweet! After our lunch we went and printed out the språk program thing and then called people!

Friday

Today we did companionship study and then had dinner with my grandparents!  We had another convert lesson and talked to them about prayer and how important prayer is, but also how important it is to listen to the Spirit.  Prayer has been one of the most important things to me all growing up and so being able to teach it to my grandpa and to testify of it's power and how it has helped me is the coolest experience!!!

Saturday

Today we did weekly planning and that takes up a big chunk of the day!  Then we had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward with all of the elders... and it was SO much fun!  We started playing "What are the odds?" at the dinner table and the kids were going into the kitchen to find spicy taco sauce and anything else that they could play "What are the odds?" with!  So much fun!  They are such a fun family and the kids were cracking us all up!  It was the best!!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and then we went to church and church is always good!  But I especially liked the relief society lesson today about how we need to stand as a witness for God and the whole relief society was getting all excited about missionary work and being able to find people... so Sister Cook and I are just going to take that excitement and then run with it so that we can find people!! Then we had our dinner appointment with a family in the ward...and it was delicious!  We taught their younger daughter about the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and it was so good!!  Like I said last week, I just love being able to teach it in such a simple method to help me remember just how simple the gospel is! It's the greatest experience!  We even had the family share experiences of when they felt the guidance of the Spirit and it was so cool!!  The Spirit is always so strong when we teach her and it's incredible!! Then after that we traveled home by bus and train and then had språk study because we miss it Sunday mornings because of MMK! 

Today

Today we are emailing and then we are going to Trondheim!!! ( 495km away..so we are flying!!) So that will be super exciting!  I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and I'm excited to tell you all about it next week!  

Miss you all lots and love you all tons!!! 

Pictures from Christmas at the mission president's home

Zone Conference

Kylee and her companion