Highlight of the week

The highlight of the week was definitely a visit from Elder Dyches on Friday. We had a big combined p-day in Oslo on Thursday before the conference (played sports, etc.). Elder Dyches used to be a mission president in Portland, so he had a lot of good perspectives and thoughts about missionary work. There were so many things I took away from the conference that it was kind of overwhelming. So many things to do better. One thing that really stood out to me is what he said about the spirit. It can be so easy to get into a habit of just teaching lessons and contacting people in the same way, but the spirit ALWAYS needs to be the one guiding a conversation or else the message will not be relevant to them. Especially here in Norway where people are really hesitant to hear our message and see no need for it. I of course learned this in the MTC, but I am beginning to understand why it is so important. 

Photo sent by a senior sister of Elders hanging out in Oslo

We saw a lot of miracles this week though. On Monday we were on splits up here in Kongsberg. Elder Gunther and I were in the 'city' contacting and found   this really cool guy named Ather. He is from Iraq, but has lived in Norway for a long time. Speaks really good Norsk and English. He told us up front that he had read about us on facebook and wanted to buy the book that we share. So we were like..."we can give it to you right now for free!" We taught him on steps for about half an hour. He was way positive and said he wants us to teach his girlfriend too...and his friends! He is out of town for a week, but we are teaching him again soon!

And then yesterday we finally got to meet with a Norwegian named Kenneth. We found him my first week in kongsberg, but we had to keep canceling lessons because of work, sick kids. The lesson went really well! He said that he never thought the mormon church would be the true Church of Jesus Christ. We have another teach on Wednesday, which makes me so grateful to be in a big ward and bring solid Norwegian members with us. The Bishop calls our ward "the machine." We just need to get our investigators to church and the ward will do the rest!!

I am so grateful for all the wonderful leaders we have in the church, be it in the Drammen Ward or in the 70. All these leaders know how this gospel can bless families and how important missionary work is. They express this through love and service, which is to the benefit of many. 

LoVe,

eldste Parkinson