#40 The Lord is in the details of our lives

HEYYY fra Drammen!!!

So this past week was AMAZING!  If there is anything that I've learned this past week, it's that the Lord is truly in the details of our lives and the author of this work. Small miracles happen all the time!!

Monday

So this last P-Day...yea it was just boring.  There isn't much to do here at this time of year because there is still snow so you can't really go hiking..... so we basically just hung around the church, played some basketball, tried teaching Elder Mitchell how to play the piano...that was the most entertaining part of the day... but we have a plan for today's P-Day so that will be so much better!  Then we did preparation for the rest of the week with songs and spiritual thoughts!

Tuesday

So today we had an appointment scheduled with a new guy...who didn't show up at all... so we decided to go and visit a referral that we had gotten from the Elders in Bodø.  We went to visi them...but they weren't home ...so instead we decided to go and knock doors around the area. Sister Sorensen did her first "banking"!  The first person opened the door....and we gave a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and the person was super friendly!!...which isn't your typical door result but it was great!!  We kept banking for about 40 minutes until our bus came to take us back to the church!  We had gotten on the bus for our dinner appointment but the bus had decided to not go up where it was supposed to so we had to get off and Besse ended us driving us to our dinner appointment which was super nice!! We had dinner with a lady in the ward and then Sister Sorensen sang "Come Unto Jesus" and we shared a scripture that went with the hymn. After that we had an appointmen....but it got cancelled..so we decided to go back and visit the referral again. He wasn't interested in meeting with us but took a Book of Mormon and Plan of Salvation pamphlet and was super friendly so you never know!  Maybe later down the road!  Then we went home and did 12 week!

Wednesday

Today we had a WebEx meeting with our entire mission and just talked about the new Easter Initiative that is coming out on Friday and talked about how we can use that when we are visiting members, investigators, or contacting people on the street.  Then we had District Meeting and we just talked about inviting people to be baptized and extending those invitations and then we talked about the blessings that had come into our life from being baptized members of the church. We were asked to write down 50 blessings just when we were sitting there and it was so cool!  I did it later in my personal study and it's incredible to see all the blessings that come from being a member of the church...my life would be completely different and literally all I have and all I am, I owe to the gospel.  Then after that we had an appointment with an investigator... but she wasn't home... so we decided to go banking and then try again later. We had one Book of Mormon and prayed that we would be able to give that one book out and that we would be led.  We had lots of interesting conversations and on the last house, I had a feeling that we needed to go to the house next door which I thought was weird because I had banked on that door earlier and it wasn't too long ago, but I did it anyway and she was the one that took the Book of Mormon!  If you are listening for the promptings of the Spirit, you will hear them.  They are there.  Like I said earlier in the morning, the Lord is in the details of our lives.  We then tried our investigator again, but she still wasn't home, so we had dinner at the church and then practiced singing for stake conference and then went to young womens!

Thursday

So today we decided to go back and try our investigator one more time and she was home!!!  So we read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon with her and then taught her the Restoration and watched the Restoration film with her.  She was asking lots of questions, but there were many questions that didn't really have to do with the Restoration.  So we're not actually sure if she is truly interested, or if she lets us in because we are missionaries.  So we're going to try and meet with her again this coming week!  But 2 of our 3 investigators right now are also meeting with JW's so...That doesn't exactly make it easy either.  Then we went from her house to a family in the ward for our dinner appointment.... and we talked about standing a witness of God.... and we invited them to share something about the church on social media when we were sitting there... and then had to show us when they were done:)  Way effective commitment!  Then we went home and did 12 week and then Sister Ralphs and Sister Dransfield came here on splits!  

Friday

Miracles from splits is a real thing!  Sister Ralphs and I started out the day by contacting on the street and within 10 minutes we had handed out 2 Books of Mormon and that doesn't happen every day!  Usually we can't even get one out!  But the first guy we talked to, I started talking to him by asking him about prophets and then he said that there wasn't really a reason to believe there was a God.... so then I asked if I could share a scripture with him and it was Alma 30:44 about how all things denote there is a God.... and then we asked if we could meet and he said he wasn't interested but he took the Book of Mormon!  Then the next person that took the Book of Mormon actually worked for the Bragernes church and said she was going to bring it to work!  Then we stopped this one lady on the street and she said that she wasn't really sure why she felt she needed to talk to us... but she then told us about how she had been on a spiritual journey and how she had lost one of her kids.... and so we got her number and she is so prepared to hear the gospel!!!!  Little miracles like this is what proves to me that God exists.  He is there!  He is aware of each and every one of this!  He is in the details of our lives!  I could feel the Spirit so strongly after talking to her...I was so happy!  The joy the gospel brings is literally indescribable!  There is nothing on this earth that will ever bring that joy, except for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful that I have the chance to share it every single day!!  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! Then we helped vacuum the cultural hall in the church and then Sister Dransfield and I went to Mommo and Besse for dinner and talked about the Sabbath Day. It was a great visit!! Then we tried banking on a couple of doors that Sister Dransfield knew when she served in this area but they weren't home. Then we did splits review!

Saturday

Today we went and visited our neighbor just for a short little visit in the middle of the day and so we just listened to music and chatted with her for a little while..... and then we got Sister Sorensen a vocabulary book from the city and we had dinner and weekly planning! We are setting ourselves up for a way good week!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and church which is always great! We had dinner with all the missionaries at a member''s hours and that was super good!  After dinner we went and visited a lady in the ward. We talked to her about Mosiah 24:14-16 and bearing our burdens because that poor lady has so much on her plate right now.  She is probably one of the strongest people I know!  She told us that she is just going about it "the viking way" She said that she would be coming to General Conference with us this Saturday so that is super exciting!  It was a great visit!  

Today

Today we are actually going to Elve Parken and having a picnic and playing volleyball and soccer!  The weather is SO NICE! Yesterday is was in the 60s outside and today it's supposed to be around the same!!  So we're going out to soak in the sun!  

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!! Thanks for all the love and support!  It means a lot! :)

1) We got new pillows from mommo...hopefully no more stiff necks!
2) My companion is obsessed with Norwegian waffles:))
3) Me and Sister Sorenson...ready to hand out free hotdogs and Book of Mormons
4)Us:))
5) On splits!!
6) Our non-member fun neighbor loves hats...so, of course we had to try them on:))

#39 My new companion!!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

This week was another amazing week as usual..I mean what do you get when you're in the greatest mission in the world...amazing week after week!  So I'm just going to jump right in!

Monday

So last Monday we had actually planned to drive up to Spiralen with my grandparents and walk around the outdoor museum.. but we got up there and it was freezing cold so we went and got hot chocolate at Gulskogen instead and then walked around the stores... and we got a few things from them so that was fun!  We then went to dinner and Sister Cook said goodbye to a few people.  

Tuesday

Today I had a WebEx meeting for all the new trainers in the mission...which was me and two elders haha!  But we talked about what we needed to do as trainers in the mission and I learned a lot and it got me really excited!  Then we did our studies and went out and said goodbye to a few families in the ward! So that traveling time took up the majority of our day too haha!  Then Sister Cook packed and I got stuff ready for my new missionary!!

Wednesday

We dropped Sister Cook off today:((( We have become the best of friends....and it's always sad to say good-bye...but I know this one is not a good-bye but see you later!!  We dropper her off at the train station around 10 along with Elder Johnson and then the rest of the elders and I went to the church to do our studies and had lunch while waiting for my new missionary and Elder Mitchell's new companion.  President Hill called and said that they would just drive her down instead of having her take the train, so Sis. Hill and Sis. Dransfield drove her down here and then I met my "daughter" in mission terminology!  She's the sweetest and just so nice!  We get along super well which makes training even more fun!  We went and dropped off her stuff at the apartment and then we had a dinner appointment that takes an hour to travel too... so we took the bus down to the city and then we had extra time before the train came... so we went out contacting!  She handled it like a champ though!  I talked and then I would explain what they had said and she was already asking what specific words meant and she is just ready to learn and really jumping in with both feet!  We got on the train and talked to a lady from Mo I Rana all the way to our destination and then tried contacting in the city while waiting for the bus... but there was no one out.  So we went to our dinner appointment with the elders and had a fun visit with them.... and we gave the spiritual thought. My new companion, Sister Sorensen bore her testimony at the end in Norwegian already!!  She is the greatest!  Then the elders drove us back and funny story...so Elder Mitchell was driving but Sister Sorensen thought I was driving so she sat in the front seat and Elder Mitchell sat in the driver's seat and he just freaked out..it was hilarious!:))  Anyway, moving on!  Then we went to Young Women's and helped them set up for a dance on Saturday!

Thursday

Today we had District Meeting with our new District! Elder Mitchell's new companion is Elder Decker. He is from Salem, Oregon and does fencing..that's about all I know..he just served in Stavanger.  We talked about using the members to help us do missionary work and what it means to establish the church ....and then had District lunch!  We had our studies and then met with a lady who actually just kept drilling me with questions about women and the priesthood...she told us she is anti-mormon.... so she is no longer an investigator....there's no need to sit and argue with her. After that we went and tried to visit our investigator and invite her to the Relief Soceity activity..she couldn't come but we did get a way to contact her through email so that was great!!  Then a lady in the ward came and picked us up and drove us to the Relief Soceity activity and that was a lot of fun!  Poor Sister Sorensen got hit hard with jet lag today plus all the Norwegian... but she did a great job!  

Friday

Today we did weekly planning and then we went and visited a family in the ward.... and it was quite the adventure getting up there:)) There were different buses and all sorts of things but there wasn't a bus going to the place we needed... so we literally booked it up the mountian in 7 minutes!!  We had mentioned that Sister Sorensen could sing and that I played the piano and the member lady  immediately took us to the piano and we had a little mini concert:))  She explained how she had used music on her mission so she is letting us borrow her Children's Songbook and her hymn book so that we could play and sing at members houses.... so we have a goal to use that during every spiritual thought and lesson this week!  So that will be super fun! We printed out some music that we can use for spiritual thoughts and then traveled home. Our bus to our house just never showed up so the elders had to come pick us up and take us home! 

Saturday

Today we had a street stand trying to invite people to an open house that we had on Sunday talking about the Plan of Salvation.  We were at the stand for 6 hours and handed out 500 cards...Sister Sorensen had stuck with me for the beginning of the day and stopped people and asked them the first question and then I would jump in after wards.... but then by the end we were both contacting by ourselves inviting people to this open house!!  It was awesome to see!  The Elders were all in awe that we managed to give out our cards so fast... so to say that we were exhausted by the end of the day is an understatement!  Then we went and visited Mommo and Besse and  we played the piano on Mommo's  keyboard... we sang and then shared a spiritual thought about scripture study.  It was a great visit!  Then when we went home we did 12 week which was a lot of fun...twelve week (new missionary training) is a lot more fun the second time around haha!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and church and it was all fantastic!  We had a really good Relief Society lesson about the power of prayer.  Then a family in the ward invited us and the elders over for dinner last minute because we had no dinner appointment. So nice of them and we had a lot of fun with their family ...their little boys are hilarious! Elder Decker had invited the boys to honor their parents and one of the boys said, "Just this week?" and we were all cracking up!  After that we prepared things for the open house so I played the piano while Sister Sorensen sang I am a Child of God.... and that's the first time I've ever played the piano in front of people for a musical number so that was fun!  We were waiting to welcome the nonmembers to our event because we had handed out 500 cards and there was literally no one that came..just members. So that was a little disappointing:((...you think about stuff like that and we had all worked so hard..... and we thought that at least 1 out of 500 would show up...but all I know is that God loves His children even if I don't understand all of the plan sometimes.  1 Nephi 11:17.  Then we finished up studies that night!  

Today

Today we are emailing and then Sister Sorensen has to get a few things and then we are going to try and think of something fun!  Who knows what we will do!

Love you all lots and miss you all tons!

Sis. Hill took some amazing pictures of Kylee and her new companion! And this is what she wrote: "Wednesday I was lucky enough to be the driver delivering Sister Sorensen to her waiting companion Sister Love in Drammen. Sister Love is living up to her name:))!

#38 Transfers!! I'm staying in Drammen!

Hei Hei fra Drammen!!!

This was another amazing week!!!  We had amazing weather this past week and I didn't even need to wear my winter coat! And it smells like spring outside...yes there is a smell of spring!!  It's fantastic!  We are climbing out of winter...sort of...this is Norway...there will be snow probably this week but anyways! Also, forgot my planner today so we're going off of memory here!

Monday

So last week we were both sick so we quickly e-mailed and then we went back to our apartment and Sister Cook slept and then I cleaned, and I wrote letters, and yep..that was it!  

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and it was great!  We talked about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost.  We talked about how we need to seek and do our part if we want answers and if we want to continue to grow our own testimonies.  We can't just expect everything to be given to us... we need to work for it and have a little faith. After that we had District lunch and we did our language study. We hopped on the bus to go and have our appointment with our investigator... but then we got to her house... she said that she wasn't home so then we hopped back on the bus and went back down to the city. We were supposed to have another lesson but he cancelled an hour before... so then we went to some members and had dinner which was so much fun!! After our lesson we ended up talking about rings and dresses!  Lots of fun!:))

Wednesday

Today we met with a friend of mine and that was so much fun!  We had lunch here at the church and then we watched Meet the Mormons....and I just love that movie!  So so good!  Anyone and everyone can relate to it and it's a perfect example of being able to really see the blessings that come from living the gospel and applying it to our families! There was also the skiing thing a ma jig! (World Cup Cross-Country Skiing sprint) So the whole entire city was basically a ski route for these skiers!  These skiers are literally the best of the best and so we were so excited to be able to see.... and we literally saw the very last bit of the preliminaries. We didn't get to see a whole lot because we had to drive to our dinner appointment. Sister Cook and I had to buy the hats that all the skiers had as well:))  We had the elders drive us to a family in the ward because it was all of us that had the dinner appointment and we got to see a little bit of the skiing on tv which was super fun!  The elders shared the spiritual thought and then we dropped the elders off at another appointment and then we went to our appointment to watch the bible video Abraham...it's 3 hours long so we only watched an hour and a half of it today!  But it was a great visit with her and she is literally the nicest person ever!  

Thursday

I cannot for the life of me remember what we did today..except for this so here we go! Today we went a family in the ward for dinner and it was a great visit!  We talked to their daughter about her hip hop class and then we said that if she showed us what she had learned then we would bring her a candy bar next time.... so she was showing us her hip hop dance and it was so fun!  We also watched the Mormon Message "A Work in Progress" because they love basketball.... so it was easy to relate and it's so cool how many different ways you can teach the principles of the gospel!  There is literally no limit!  Greatest thing!  Then later today we did our weekly planning and had chocolate covered strawberries..that was absolutely delicious.  Norwegian strawberries in melted Norwegian chocolate...wow!  So that made weekly planning a party!  

Friday

We contacted around the city today but there wasn't any big potentials, just lots of cards handed out. Today we went to Mommo and Besse's house and that was so much fun!  We had fiskeboller for dinner and then karamel krone is for dessert and it was all so good!  We watched the video "The Refiner's Fire" and talked about how we need to endure to the end.  It was interesting because I was studying Preach My Gospel this past week and was reading about this life and the purpose we are here... and the two main points are to prepare to live with our Heavenly Father and to have joy.  There isn't a point that says that it's supposed to be super hard, or that it's supposed to be boring, or that it's supposed to be painful.  So we read a scripture in 2 Nephi 2:11-13..I think those are the verses and it talks about how if there is no misery, then there is no happiness.  We literally have to have these difficult things happen just so that we can fulfill the purposes of this life.  To live with God and to have JOY.  I just love that..let's just all be happy!:)) Then after that we went and visited a lady and had a dessert night and just talked with her about her life and I was so full I swear I could barely walk out of there... but it was so much fun!  

Saturday

Today we taught our investigator and she had brought a friend with her!  Missionary dream!  Except for the fact that they both speak Swahili. Our investigator speaks English, but her friend speaks Norwegian..so hopefully we have the chance to see her friend again and teach her in Norwegian. So we taught our investigator in English as usual.  We taught her the third lesson, the gospel of Jesus Christ and talked about faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.  She had actually talked about baptism as soon as we sat down and how she just needed to be thrown in the river haha so that's fun!  We are meeting with her again this next Saturday!  Then later we met with another investigator... and since it was Sister Cook's last visit... she wanted to do something fun... so she literally took us bowling!  We played three games!!  It was a blast!!  This lady is literally the sweetest lady and it was the greatest visit!  We have become such good friends with her and now she comes to church every week so it's amazing!  I love seeing the progress people make in the gospel...investigators, new converts, less actives...whatever it may be I love it! Then we went to our neighbors houses and we did an early celebration of Sister Cook's birthday.... so we had potato soup and then they had gotten us gelato from the Italian place in the city. I've never had gelato until now and IT IS SO GOOD!!!!!!! And yes I know it's in Norway but it's an Italian that makes it all... so it's legit gelato...oh my gosh so good!  We got permission to watch The Incredibles and that was hilarious because everything is ten times more funny as a missionary!  It was a great last visit for Sister Cook!

Sunday

Today we had MMK and ward conference and we got a whole new bishopric!  So we were able to listen to their testimonies and it was super good!  It's amazing to see how much our callings in the church can bless our own lives.  It's so important to have callings and be able to serve in that capacity...calls are inspired.  That I know.  Then we had a member from the Stake Sunday School Presidency teach Sunday School and then we had our Relief Society lesson about being Daughters of God and that was great too!  Church was just great!  We had our meals, we had our studies and then I was putting the area book into protector sheets and organizing it with the dividers...so now it's getting to the point of being so pretty in it's pink binder!  Sister Cook also started packing up a bit because she is leaving on Wednesday!:((((

I tried remembering the most of the week and I believe that I got the majority of it...next week I'll remember to bring the planner!  Anyways...have an amazing week!!

Today

We found out that Sister Cook is opening up a new area in Bergen so she'll have a blast over there!  She's such an amazing missionary...so she will do great!!!  The people there will be lucky to have her up there!  I'm still going to have a blast here in Drammen which is fine by me...I'm loving it here!! And I'm way excited about my new companion....I'm going to be a trainer!!! She is from Santa Barbara CA....and coming straight from the MTC!

I'm absolutely loving it over here and happy as can be!!! 

Love you all so much and miss you tons!!!

Kylee and her new hat

Kylee and Sis. Cook.....they have become such good friends!

#37 Testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon

God Morgen fra andre siden av verden!  That greeting isn't as exciting as last week's... but it's at least something different! This week was another amazing week!  Until I got a cold and Sister Cook woke up with the stomach flu... so we're rocking it!

Monday

Last P-Day we went bowling with our District and a couple of members and it was a blast!  Believe it or not...but I scored higher than a hundred in 2/3 games and I took pictures for proof because I know you guys wouldn't believe me otherwise!  Then after that Sister Cook and I ate a late lunch and were at the church for a little bit.  We went grocery shopping and  went to our appointment.  Her husband is a member but she is not and she has been taught before.  She told us that she would not become a member of the church but she was super nice and invited us to come and watch a bible video with her.. and that she would make popcorn so that was super sweet of her!  

Tuesday

Today we spent a good time preparing our lesson for an investigator that is from India.  He speaks a little bit of Norwegian but not a ton so we were finding all this stuff in Hindi and then we drew out the whole Restoration on the white board and so that was fun!  We went to a family in the ward for dinner. We had looked up the buses and so we got on the bus that it said we could take....but it took us WAYYY farther than it said it was going... so we just got off on a random stop. We could see the  Stenseth hill far off in the distance and there was no bus that was coming all the way out there again... so we just started walking back.  I can only imagine what all these people thought when they saw two girls walking in skirts in the middle of nowhere.  We called the family that we were having dinner with... and we were able to walk to a place that they could put in their GPS... and then they came and picked us up.  It was such a fun dinner appointment!!  We just sat and chatted and then we shared a spiritual thought about faith and how we can exercise our faith.  Then we took the bus back to the church and our appointment didn't show up!!:( So yep..and then we had an apartment inspection

Wednesday

Today we had a lesson with our investigator!  This is one of the coolest and most spiritual lessons that I have had on my mission!  We planned on teaching him the Restoration by using the Restoration film that is 20 minutes long and then ending it with watching "The Testimony of the Book of Mormon" by Jeffrey R. Holland.  As we began watching the video, I prayed that our investigator would be open to the Spirit so that he could feel the Spirit testifying of truth, but I also prayed that I would be able to strengthen my testimony and receive another witness that it was true as well.  As it showed the First Vision and  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith then I could feel the Spirit so strong that I could physically feel it in my heart.  Then not to mention, the sun began shining through the window immediately as they started to appear to Joseph Smith.  It was one of the strongest times that I have felt the Spirit!  It was incredible!  And our investigator felt it too!  You could tell that he felt it!  I know for a surety that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God and that he was called to restore the true church back to the earth.  I know for a surety that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and I'm so incredibly grateful for that knowledge and testimony that I have.  After that we met with a new investigator. We just got to know her a little bit and then she started asking all these super deep questions about the church.  She wasn't bashing and she was sincere in her questions, and a couple of the questions were hard to answer.  Our minds were going a thousand miles an hour trying to explain the answers to her questions so we chatted with her for a long time and next time we are just starting the lessons over again!  We went to dinner at a member family's house. We just love visiting them!  We have become such good friends with their daughter and she loves it when we come!  This time we had their daughter and I teach Sister Cook about the Book of Mormon and it was so cool to sit and listen to her testimony of the Book of Mormon even though she is so young!!

Thursday

Today we had District Meeting and talked about faith in Jesus Christ and humility and then related it to the pioneers and them building temples.  It was so good!  Actually, one of the things that has come up a lot this week is temples, especially since the Drammen ward just went to the temple this past week in Sweden.  I've said it multiple times but I miss being able to attend the temple!  It is such an incredible blessing and especially with where I am from and being able to get to 6 temples in less than 30 minutes! We should definitely be able to make the small sacrifice of a couple of hours to serve the Lord.  Then we did our studies since we had District Meeting early and then we visited a lady..  We just sat and chatted with her and we're having a dessert night with her this week so that will be a party!  When we got back to our house went and visited our neighbors and played cards! 

Friday

Today we met with another investigator and we watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration.  I absolutely love that movie and I swear I try to think of every possible situation where that movie can be applied because it is INCREDIBLE!!  Every time you finish watching it you just have a burning testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon!  It's incredible!  Sister Cook and I were in tears at the end!  After our visit we went and visited Mommo and Besse and it was a blast!  We had lapskaus which is my favorite and then we talked to them about faith which turned into stories about the temple! It was an incredible visit!!  After that, we went back home and began weekly planning

Saturday

Today we got invited by the elders to come and play sport!  But no one ended up showing up except the missionaries... but we had a good time playing basketball and ping pong!  We went and ate lunch and then Sister Cook and I got changed and we went to teach one of our investigators.  We talked to her about the Restoration and  she believes everything we teach her.  We asked her about baptism and she had told us multiple times that she had already been baptized but we explained the authority and following Christ's example.  Then she finally said, "Yes...then I can do it the way that Christ did"  So we are still working with her and helping her gain more knowledge about the gospel!  Then we took a couple of our studies and  finished up weekly planning. We watched a little bit of the Face to Face Broadcast and made dinner for us and the elders at the church. The elders were in charge of dessert.  Well...I took a picture of what the elders tried making for dessert...we got a good laugh out of that one!  It ended up being like a jell muffin pudding thing with chocolate mousse..haha! But they tried:))

Sunday

Today we had MMK and then church... but today we had an area conference with everyone in Northern Europe!  So we had L. Whitney Clayton, Linda S. Reeves, M. Russel Ballard and then someone else that spoke to us.  It was all in English!:)  We had another appointment with a new investigator.  She is from Africa and has lived in Norway for 2 years.  We were there for about 5 minutes before the Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on the door because they had been visiting our investigator before and were friends with her.  So we literally had JW's join our visit for a little while.  Book of Mormon on the table, lds.org, mormonchannel.org up on the computer.  They didn't stay very long but they were nice.  Then we showed the "Testimony of the Book of Mormon" from Holland and invited her to read the Introduction to the Book of Mormon... and we are meeting with her again on Tuesday!  Super great!!  We went to a family in the ward for dinner and I shared my mission scripture and talked about that for a little while!  When we got home we made blueberry muffins because we were craving them!!:)  

Today

Well...we're both sick so we aren't doing much today!  Probably watching a church movie on our tiny little DVD player at home and eating soup!  

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!!

We didn't get any pictures today...she forgot to send them:))

It has been 8 months today since she entered the MTC!! We miss her so much, but we know she is where she is supposed to be....and she is Happy!!

#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!!"