#70 I love my mission!

Hei Hei fra Bergen! 

Fall has officially hit Bergen and it's getting a little chilly!  But our hearts are staying warm from all the MIRACLES we're seeing!  Sorry, that was the worst joke ever told... but miracles are happening, tender mercies are being seen, and as always, GOD IS GOOD! 

Monday

Last Monday Sister Stolp and I went with the Zone Leaders to MLC in Oslo!  So Sister Stolp and I stayed at the mission home with Sister Cook and with Sister Horgmo.... and it was so much fun!!!  I haven't seen Sister Cook since March so it was so much fun to see her again!!!  We were having a party!  

Tuesday

Today we had MLC with all of the other STL's and Zone Leaders and then we talked about our mission and what we can do to help our missionaries... and talked about zone focuses and all of that jazz!  So that was fun! Then we headed to the airport to fly back to good ol Bergen! 

Wednesday

Today we had our mission wide webex and then we had District Meeting.  I led the doctrine portion of it and talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then I was asked to come up with the practical... so then we did that about active listening.  It was a good District Meeting!  Our District is hysterical!!!  Then we taught our investigator and we talked to him about the Restoration and discussed it with him. He knows all of the information already but it was a great lesson!  Then we were going to teach another investigator but she called and cancelled on us... so then we worked in our area book and did 12 week! 

Thursday

Today we were out contacting at the beginning of the day and Sister Hatch and I had made a goal that she would stop and ask the first question and then I would carry on the conversation.  She stopped every single person that we talked to!  I didn't stop a single one, just carried on conversations!  It was awesome to see! My greenie is growing up so fast!  Haha!  We even found a potential investigator!  Blessings upon blessings!  Then we went and visited a member family and we took the wrong bus... ended up in the right neighborhood...but we were on the completely different side..we were told that if we would just walk all the way around the little lake then we would get there.  Well little did we know just how long that was going to be... we got a little workout in before we got there haha!  We talked to them about what M. Russell Ballard talked about in his devotional and then we shared the Mormon Message "Same Jersey" and then committed them to write their testimonies in the Book of Mormon...and we would hand out one and then they would pray to hand out one.... and they were so excited about it!  They even wanted to put their own phone numbers in it so people could contact them about the church!  It was awesome!  After that we had dinner and then we went and taught our investigator.  The elders came along because she has a 12 year old son and she thought it would be good for him.... so we taught the Restoration and played games throughout it.  We had him mirror one of the elders with his eyes closed to teach about prophets...and we used a crushed up chocolate bar to represent the apostasy... and blindfolded him... and had him "find the right church" to teach about Joseph Smith.  It was awesome!  Such a good lesson! 

Friday 

Today was weekly planning day! And our area book is immaculate!  It is beautiful! Then we had dinner with a family in the ward with the other sisters and it was a great dinner!  I feel like we finally got a good relationship with them and that they are excited about our missionary work which was awesome! 

Saturday

Today we taught one of our investigators and it was a great lesson!  We talked to him about how reading the scriptures, praying, and going to church are all commandments of God. We had a great discussion about all of those things and then he told us that he hadn't had coffee since we had committed him not to!!  His friend had even bought him coffee and he had turned it down!!  WAHOO!!! Then we went and taught another investigator and something finally clicked for him!  He was literally bearing his testimony to us in our lesson and then we were talking about how to recognize the Spirit and he was telling us his plan for how he wants to move towards baptism and it was the coolest lesson!  I was smiling from ear to ear!  MIRACLES!!! 

Sunday

MORE MIRACLES!!!! We had 2 investigators in church today and guess who was one of them!? The one we talked to yesterday!!!! And guess what!?  HE STAYED FOR ALL 3 HOURS!!  He has tons of friends in the ward that he has known for many years and we have a Spanish Sunday school class that he went to.... and he might be coming to the ward party on Friday..... and also he volunteered to come help clean the church with the priesthood!  What investigator does that!?  That is incredible!  Our investigator that threw away his cigarettes also came to church! Then Sister Stolp and I were planning our presentation for Zone Conference tomorrow because we have to talk about the area book and the phone and stuff like that... and then Sister Hatch and I went to our investigator. We watched Meet the Mormons with her and it's the greatest movie ever!  Every one can connect to it in some way or another!  It's awesome!  

Today

Today we have no idea what we are doing!  But now we're emailing! It's going to be another great week here in Bergen and I am excited to see what other miracles happen this week!  GOD IS GOOD! 

Love you all lots and miss you tons!

Pictures from her STL conference in Oslo...and her and Sis. Cook. They were companions in Drammen...and hadn's seen each other since March! Very happy to see each other again and catch up.

#69 A week of Miracles!!

Hei Hei fra Bergen!!!

This week was an INCREDIBLE week!  There were miracles left and right and let me just say... GOD IS GOOD! 

Monday

We decided that we were going to go a try a less active that was on our YSA list and we were having the hardest time finding the building.... but when we finally found it....there were no names on any doors.. just numbers! The address that we had didn't said anything about what door they lived in... so we decided to just start banking.  We knocked on the second door and it was a family!  I started talking about the Book of Mormon and she said that her husband was really interested and that we could definitely come back!  She took the Book of Mormon and our card and thanked us for coming to her door!  Then we knocked on the 4th door and it was another lady and I started talking about the Plan of Salvation because that's what I felt was needed by the Spirit... and I asked her if that was something that she was interested in and she said yes!  She told us we could come back because she was going to have visitors but that she really wanted to learn more!  ALL THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD ONLY BANKED ON 6 DOORS!!! TALK ABOUT MIRACLES!

Tuesday

Today we had a WebEx for Pre MLC and then we taught one of our investigators with a member present!  We talked about church attendance and why it is on Sunday and what it means to come to church.  We read 3 Nephi 18 where Christ institutes the sacrament and it was an awesome lesson!  We committed him to read the Book of Mormon every single day and he talked to the member for a long time after the lesson and had a good discussion!  Then we taught another investigator and this is the highlight of my week!  We haven't met with him for a long time and he has been on vacation for the longest time. We could tell something was off... so we met with him and we know that he has thought about baptism and that is something that he wants to do.... but he isn't ready to be baptized right now because there are some other things that need to be fixed.  We started asking him what you need to do to become a Mormon and wrote them up on the board.  One of them being the Word of Wisdom and we knew there was a problem with that.  He knew that he was in the wrong and then I asked him if he had the tobacco with him.... he said he did and I asked him if he could do something.  He said yes and I said, "I want you to throw it away" .....He understood that God was the one that had given the commandment and he had just said that he wasn't addicted.  I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I felt that's what I needed to do.  He got up right out of his chair, got his tobacco and went and threw it away!!  In that closing prayer he thanked God for the lesson that we had had and how he had felt.... he was in the dark but that he had finally seen some of the light again.  He went home and threw away the other tobacco he had and even showed us a video of him throwing it in the garbage!  WHAT FAITH!!!! He told us that he knew that we had been sent from God and that I was promising him blessings and he said, "You say jump and then I just ask how high?" The Spirit was so strong in that lesson!  WOW!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! BEST LESSON EVER!! That is something that I will never forget! Then we went and taught less actives about prophets and committed them to come to church on Sunday for all 3 hours! 

Wednesday

We had 3 appointments today but they all got cancelled!  So we called potentials and we were out on the streets all day and doing studies and different things like that and honestly I don't really remember all that happened that day! 

Thursday

Today we had District Meeting with our new District.  Elder Burgoyne, Elder Stephenson, Elder Hansen, Elder Lowther, Sister Brimhall, Sister Stolp, Sister Hatch and I! It was a great district meeting!  We talked about the spirit and then we practiced contacting people on the street! We had both of our appointments for the day cancel once again and so we were back out on the streets!  We had some really good conversations with some people but many of them turned us down anyway!  But it was a lot of fun!  I just don't get some people...if they knew what I was offering them then I'm pretty sure they'd give me a couple more minutes to speak:)  

Friday

Today we went banking for a little bit and then we taught our investigator we talked to on Tuesday.  We did a church tour and ended in the chapel with him reading 3 Nephi 17 while I played primary songs on the piano. The Spirit was super strong. He said that he is trying to strengthen his faith and find out the truth and asked about the word of wisdom so we just taught that.  He has a few problems with it but he said that he would give up coffee from there on out!  It was awesome!  The investigators we have right now are incredible!!! Then we did weekly planning and then went to sport which is always fun!  

Saturday

Today we had studies and språk class and then it was back out on the street!  We talked to one guy on a bench and he had said that he believed in life after death so of course I held onto that and started talking about the plan of salvation.  He said it was something he was interested in learning about but that he would never become a mormon, he just wanted the information.  I said that was fine and asked him if we could share the Book of Mormon that talked about this plan.  He said yes and then we left with his number and we turned around later and he was reading in the Book of Mormon...and then we looked back later and he was STILL READING!  So that's incredible!  Whether something comes out of it or not, he can feel the power of the Book of Mormon because that my friends, is not just another book!  Then we (Sister Stolp and I) helped the zone leaders plan Zone Conference and the Zone Focus! 

Sunday

Today we had church and our investigator came to church!!! Talk about miracles!  He started out as an atheist with no knowledge of anything and now he is at a maybe God exists and reads the Book of Mormon and came to church!!!  And every testimony that was given applied to his situation and what he has gone through recently!  Isn't that incredible!?  God knows each one of us individually!  Can I just say that!? God is good!  It was such a good meeting!  I was so excited that he had come!  Then Sister Stolp and I planned our splits focus and then we had dinner and a devotional with M. Russell Ballard for all of Europe.  He talked about how the members need to help missionaries because we can't perform the miracle alone anymore... but that they need to help.  He told us all that we need to believe in miracles because they have not ceased!  That we each have a miracle that must be performed by each of us and the greatest miracle we can perform is bringing another soul to the light of the gospel!  IT WAS SO GOOD!!! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES EVERYONE!!!!! 

This week has just been an incredible week and I have seen miracle upon miracles and just ways, small and big, that God shows us that He is there! He loves us and He knows each one of us individually. God is good all the time and all the time God is good!  Look for the tender mercies of the Lord this week!  They are always there, you just have to find them:)

Love you lots and miss you tons!

#68 Splits to Trondheim and umbrella fun

Hei Hei fra Bergen!!! 

Well another transfer has come and gone and Sister Love is staying in good 'ol Bergen for another 6 weeks at least!  I think it's going to be the rest of my mission which is fine by me!  I absolutely love it here and fall in Bergen is PRETTY!!! It's freezing cold and I'm dressing like it's winter but it's beautiful so it's fine! 

Monday

Today we went and hiked Ståltzen or something like that and that was quite the hike!  But people who live close to it run up it every single day!  The record is around 7 minutes!  Crazies!  Then for proselyting time we rode the bybane all the way to the airport and back to where we live and just talked to people on the bybane because it was pouring rain! It was a fun new way to contact!

Tuesday

Today we watched General Conference (the Sunday Afternoon Session) and then we had District Meeting and then we talked about patience and diligence. We did practicals on banking and that was fun!  Then we went out to go banking and you should've all seen Sister Hatch and I out there haha!  Our umbrellas were directly in front of our faces trying to stop the rain, then the wind would blow it so it flipped the umbrella upside down! We had a good ol time!  Then later we had MMK and then we went and taught our investigator and she's the best!  We watched the General Conference talk from Rasband about how God doesn't do coincidence and then talked about how she has seen God's hand in her life. After that we went to sing in the ward choir and that was entertaining to say the least haha!  

Wednesday

Today Sister Stolp and I went to Trondheim for splits!  We got there and I went with Sister Palmer to go and teach a less active that they were working with... and it went really well!  We were able to invite her to come to church on Sunday and she was really listening to everything we said!  It was awesome!  Then we had dinner with the other sisters and one of the new converts in the Trondheim ward and that was super fun!  Then we did language study with Sister Horgmo who is Norwegian and so that's always helpful! 

Thursday

Today I was with Sister Whetten who is actually from Saratoga Springs too!  We taught a new convert and we watched a conference talk in Arabic because that's his first language!  Good thing I'd seen the talk already in English haha!  Then we ended up teaching another new convert as well and talking to him about his conversion story and it was super cool!  He was saying how he is the only member in his family and how that doesn't matter to him because the gospel is more important to him than anything else and that his faith comes first.  It was awesome!  Then we had splits review and then we were back on trains and planes to come back home to Bergen! 

Friday

Today we had our appointment cancel on us so we were out on the streets and people were just not having what we were telling them today... but I started talking to the girl sitting across from me on the bybane and she was from Austria and was now living in Norway... and I thought about inviting her to sport and talked about our church and how we have YSA activities and different things and she was really interested in that... so we got a potential investigator!!!  Woot woot!!!  We've always gotta be talking to people because we never know where we're going to find them!!!!  Then we went and played sport and I'm getting better...blessings of a mission!  Haha!  Just kidding!   Or maybe it's just mom's skills in volleyball being passed on and they're just kicking in late hahah!  

Saturday

We were going to meet with an investigator today but that got cancelled... so we had lunch and then did weekly planning and then it was off to the Saturday session of Stake Conference!  That was really good!  They were talking about how the gospel has helped others through trials and they were really good talks!  

Sunday

Today we had Sunday session of Stake Conference and they were also way good talks!  There were a lot of returned missionaries that spoke and it was so cool to listen to them talk about their missions and the experiences that they had.... because we can relate since we are missionaries ourselves!  Then we had two appointments but both of those got rescheduled so we called potentials and had dinner and then we had our studies and 12 week!

Today

Today we had transfers!  Sister Wheeler is leaving us and going to Haugesund which will be fun for her but we're all bummed that she is leaving! Sister Stolp is going to be training and then Sister Hatch and I are still going to be companions!  Then as for the elders, Elder Christian is leaving to go to Hamar and then we're getting Elder Burgoyne ....Elder Hansen is training and Elder Cole is going AP! So that's the rundown on that!  I'm way excited for this next transfer!

Love you all lots and miss you tons!!

Pictures from Kylee this week....Training in Oslo with her companion...outside the castle. Splits in Trondheim..outside Nidarosdomen...a big cathedral. Kylee is posing with Books of Mormon...each representing one month...the picture is a little old...she has now been out for 16 months and only has 2 months left!!!

#67 I love General Conference as a missionary!!

Hei Hei Fra Bergen!

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

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

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

Friday

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

Saturday

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

Love you lots and miss you tons!

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

#66 Best Zone Conference and splits miracles!!

Hei Hei Fra Bergen!!! 

This week has been another incredible week...but what's new haha!  Every week in the mission is just another incredible week and I am so blessed to be able to serve the people here in Norway! 

Monday

Last Monday we went with the other sisters to teach språk to an investigator that is trying to learn Norwegian and then ate dinner at home after that... and that about summed up our evening!

Tuesday

Today we left for zone conference in Stavanger!!! This was probably one of my favorite zone conferences in my entire mission!!!  We talked about having the faith to find and letting the spirit guide and it was incredible!  They then gave us 10 minutes at the end to be able to reflect on what we learned and what we can apply to our missionary work.  I decided to read D&C "A marvelous work has begun to come forth" and I already started to get teary eyed.  This work that we do is absolutely incredible and "if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work" I finished reading this chapter and at the bottom of the page there is one of the paragraphs written that is in every mission call letter.  "Greater happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you serve the Lord in this labor of love among His Children" that is exactly what a mission is and I have totally seen that come to pass throughout my mission.  I decided that I was just going to seize every moment.  When I'm contacting then I'm focused on contacting and focusing on where the Lord is leading me.  If I'm teaching a lesson then I'm fully focused on those that I am teaching.  I will seize the day, seize the moment for the rest of my mission.  It was incredible!  We then had interviews with President Hill and then we went on splits with the Stavanger Sisters, Sister Sorensen and Sister Morris and did 12 week and had dinner!

Wednesday

Today we were on splits!  I was with Sister Sorensen (my old companion in Drammen)!!! for the beginning of the day and we were out contacting because the one that we had an appointment with wasn't showing up ...so we instead were out on the streets and talk about splits miracles!  We got two people one right after the other telling us that they were interested and took the Book of Mormon and got numbers and it was awesome!  Then Sister Morris and I went and taught a less active about the Book of Mormon and how she can gain a better tie to it using the Bible and seeing how they work together.  Then we had our splits review and then we were off to traveling back to good ol Bergen!  

Thursday

Today we went and taught some investigators and we talked about prayer and the Holy Ghos...t and they are just the sweetest!  We were sharing experiences about the power of prayer and our experiences with the spirit and it was incredible.  She has such a great desire to do everything that the Lord commands and has the attitude of "Well if God says it, then I must do it" and it's incredible!  She doesn't ever hesitate, she just does.  Then we were out contacting because we had a few lessons cancel or didn't show up so we were out on the streets.... and there has been the World Cup Bike Race thing going on in Bergen so the city is literally packed all the time.  There were sooo many people!  We did find a couple of people who were interested and we got their numbers and one of them actually texted us yesterday saying that we could meet!  SWEET!!!!  Then we met with our investigator, our atheist...and he was late because of the bike race.... and we had another appointment scheduled...so we only had like 30 minutes! So we watched a couple of the Bible Videos and talked about faith in Christ and he is making so much progress!  He said that he would read in the Book of Mormon every day and he is working on coming to church!  He is so awesome!  Then we went to our next appointment and that fell through so we tried knocking on doors of potentials that we knew lived in the area...and tried to go knock doors in other apartments but the doors were locked so we ended up back out on the streets!  But it was a good day!

Friday

Today we had a lesson with a new investigator!!!  We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he was just accepting absolutely everything.  He was in total agreeance  with what we were saying and then so we of course invited him to be baptized and to set a baptismal date!  And guess what he said?!  YES!!!  So we have a baptismal date for November 11th!!!  WAHOOO!!!!! I'm so pumped!!!  I was later bearing my testimony of the blessings that will come from baptism and he looks at me and just says, "You are so easy to believe.  I just listen to what you have to say and I just believe you" Then he went on to say that the first time he had met me on the street he had felt a "connection" that apparently just makes it easy for him to believe in what we have to say.  He says that he can feel the Spirit when we teach him the lessons and that he will be baptized, he just has to gain a testimony of it:)) So we are working on that!:))Then we had another lesson with another investigator and we taught him the Plan of Salvation as well.  He said that he wants to be baptized when he finds out it is true but didn't want to set a date which is alright!  We'll keep working with him!  Then we went to sport and played volleyball! 

Saturday

Today we taught the språk class in the city and then cleaned the teaching center and then we did weekly planning, 12 week, the rest of studies and dinner!  That took up that!

Sunday

There were barely anyone in church today because all these roads were closed for the bike race... but three of the missionaries bore their testimonies in sacrament meeting which was really cool and then I translated for Sunday School!  After church we went out on the streets to contact and there weren't people who were interested but that's alright! Then we had dinner and our studies and 12 week!

Today

Today we are probably going to be outside doing something and then we are flying to Oslo for First Transfer Training so that will be a party!!  

Love you lots and miss you tons!!

  

#65 Splits...ridiculed...and miracles!

Hei Hei Fra Bergen!!! 

Bet you'll never guess how I'm gonna start this email?! Haha! It was just another amazing week in the mission field!  We have seen miracles upon miracles and as always, God is Good! 

Monday

Last Monday it was all rainy so we just walked around stores and shops and different things like that!  Then Sister Hatch and I had an appointment with a less active out in who knows where. Elder Hansen was telling us how to get from the bus stop to her house because he had a picture of the map on his phone and so he was trying to lead us there...we took the longest way possible and totally got lost and it was literally a minute away from where we started haha!  But it was a good visit!  She is a super sweet lady and we were just getting to know her and laughing but then she was eating and she literally started choking...full on choking!  We thought it was just kind of a "wrong pipe" ordeal but no, choking so both of us got up and were ready to help her and then she got air!  Talk about a freak out moment..so our less active is still alive and well! 

Tuesday

Today we had District Meeting and we were talking about The Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ and then our appointment cancelled so we went out contacting instead. We had dinner with a family in the ward and that was super good!  They are such a sweet family and are always so kind to the missionaries!  Then we had our MMK meeting and then finished up with studies and dinner! 

Wednesday

Today we had an appointment with another less active family and we taught them about the fall of Adam and Eve and agency.... and it was a super good lesson!  We were teaching them and then the lady started tearing up and just said, "I love the way that you teach the gospel" and that was a super cool for me to hear!  It was just a reminder that I am called to serve in a specific place for a specific reason because the way I teach the gospel is what the people that I am called to teach need!  Then we were contacting and then we had another appointment with a new investigator!  We talked to him about the Book of Mormon and he said he would read and we got a return appointment!  Then we had splits with the Haugesund sisters and so I was with Sister Horrocks for the rest of the day.  We met a JW on the bybane and we were having a discussion about Adam and Eve and the fall... that was cool that that was the topic because I had just taught a lesson about that earlier so it was all fresh in my brain! What we had said really got her thinking.  It was a good conversation!  Then we went apartment banking...we ring the doorbells outside of the apartments and talk to people that way and we actually had someone say we could come back!  Then we had a Relief Society Activity!

Thursday

Today I was with Sister Earl for the majority of the day!  We went and taught our investigator and we asked her to write down the blessings that she had received since she had been investigating the church and what it could mean if she joined the church.  We had a way good lesson with her and really made a break through... so I am super excited to see the progress that she will be making!  Then we went out and contacted and found a potential and  were reminded of an appointment that we hadn't written down... so we ran to meet him and taught him the Restoration and he took it all in!  He told us that when we had recited the First Vision that he had gotten goosebumps and said that he would read and then he said, "The only thing you're not going to get me to believe in is the pope" and I just laughed because we don't have a pope!  Easy! Then we taught another lesson with another investigator and taught him the Plan of Salvation and that was an interesting lesson.  He had some different ideas about the atonement and what that meant and how it wouldn't work and things like that, so that was an interesting lesson.  But he is one that just needs to read the Book of Mormon with not a desire to prove it wrong, but to take it as it is.  So we're working with him. Then Sister Hatch and I went apartment banking and someone let us in but then they didn't open their door...so almost! 

Friday

Today we were going to teach two people but both fell through so we were out contacting!  We meet so many people every single day that I literally don't remember what happened but I'm sure it was great!  Then we went and visited a sister in the ward and I just love visiting her!!!  She is the best!!!  She even walked with us to the bus when we were going to the city!  We changed for sport and were walking to the bybane and this guy saw us and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk right in front of us and says, "Hey Babes" and we just kept on walking and then he was yelling after us saying "Wait, babes, sorry" and Sister Hatch and I were just cracking up!  Oh the stories from a mission! Then we played volleyball for sport! 

Saturday

Today we had language class but the world wide bike championship is going on so going into the city takes an eternity... and all sorts of things are blocked off... but there are millions of people!  Which leads me to our contacting session!  There are some places where it is just impossible to contact... so we walked until a not so crowded area and then stopped people.  We met 3 Americans which was super fun, it's always refreshing to hear "Hi Sisters" because someone actually wants to talk to you!  I did get one of the hardest rejections though on my mission.  Everyone has seen the Book of Mormon musical and we stopped some lady and she was flat out making fun of us and laughing at us and all these other people were obviously watching.  We told her that that wasn't true and that we hoped she had a nice day but dang is it hard when people are literally laughing at you when you share something that is the most important thing in the world for you! But we were blessed because later after contacting through millions of people we found ONE person who took the Book of Mormon and said that she wanted to learn more!  The Lord leads this work!  And Jeffrey R. Holland has a quote that says, "When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Then it makes it all worth it!  Then we did weekly planning and then practiced our song that we were supposed to be singing in church on Sunday.

Sunday

Well we sang our song in Ward Conference and it went really well!  I don't know why everyone assumes that all missionaries can sing... but I have sang way too many times in church for someone who can't sing haha!  But it was great!  I got to see a lot of people from the Drammen Ward because many of them have stake positions so that was really fun!  Also, our investigator came to church and you could smell cigarette smoke but I just thought how cool that was.  I'm sitting in church and I can smell that, but that means that there is someone that is trying to change, coming closer to Christ and they may not be there yet, but they are one step closer than they were yesterday.  Then there was a school group that interviewed us about what it is like to be a missionary and that was cool!  They said that they gained a lot of respect for us and what we do after our interviews.  Then we went to a less actives house for dinner with a former investigator and that was great!  Good food, good company!  Funny story though, we were walking in the city earlier and we were talking about how hungry we were because we hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now almost 5 and this lady who worked for some store is standing with a platter with pastries handing them out for free!  We couldn't believe it!  Also, we kept laughing and saying that it was like the pioneer miracles where food just appeared!  Then later we were standing at the bus stop and witnessed some fighting scene type thing, they were fighting in the middle of the street and screaming and yelling and then two random Norwegians stopped their cars and went to go and help and I was just amazed at that. Everything was fine but I love seeing acts of service happen around me, light of Christ! 

Today

Today we are going to go play basketball with our District...yea that's going to be hilarious!  Because as we've all discovered I'm not too great at soccer or volleyball, basketball is the one that I'm the worst at if that's even possible.  So in case any of you are having a rough Monday or start to the week, just know that I'm playing basketball in Norway and that will get you laughing! 

Love you lots and miss you tons!

Kylee wanted to share this "story"

At first I saw God as an observer, like my judge, keeping track of things I did wrong. This way, God would know whether I merited heaven or hell when I died. He was always out there, sort of like the President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him at all.

But later on, when I recognized my higher power better, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, on a tandem bike, and I noticed God was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. . . .

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable. It was always the shortest distance between the points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He [said], “Pedal!”

I worried and became anxious, asking, “Where are you taking me?” He just laughed and didn’t answer, and I found myself starting to trust. I soon forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure, and when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey. Our journey, that is, God’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away, they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knew bike secrets, knew how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear places filled with rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to [be quiet] and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my higher power.

And when I’m sure I can’t go on anymore, He just smiles and says, “Pedal . . .”