VELKOMMEN TIL TRØNDELAG (Welcome to Trondheim)

Okay so saying bye to Tromsø was way sad!!! Those people and that city will forever have a piece of my heart.....

Mandag:

- packed, said goodbye to people and watched Brother Bear(:

 So glad I got to say goodbye to Dingaan

Love these two!!

Tirsdag:

- My last day in Tromsø was the greatest and nicest weather I have had!!! It was sunshine and short sleeve shirts and I wasn't even chilly at all, which was a first. We took a boat to visit our investigator Cedric who lives in on an island called Finnsnes and to contact there and get a change of scenery. It was so fun!!!

Than that night I said goodbye to a couple more people and finished packing which was a nightmare...... Seriously flying for transfers is so stressful!!! So our teach with Cedric was AWESOME!!! We taught him about the word of wisdom and law of chastity..... and lots of other things since when we usually teach him it is over skype or when he gets the chance to come into town. He is doing so awesome and I am so proud of him!! I am going to miss teaching him!! He is helping manage this restaurant and gave us free food for dinner so that was way nice of him!! With our extra time, we banked and didn't have much success, but it was nice to have a change of scenery to contact and talk to different people.

Onsdag:

- Transfer day is always stressful, but fun! After arriving in Trondheim, I met one of my companions Sister Allen who was on the same plane as me. I wish all of you could have seen us with our luggage trying to get to the train station....... man was I sweating!! It took us so many trips and to go back and forth to get all of our luggage, it was a sight for sore eyes that is for sure hahaha.

When we finally got to the train station we had to wait an hour and then it was like an hour train ride to the city where Sister Sorensen our other companion and two of the elders were waiting for us to help us walk our bags to the apartment. Of course one of my wheels on my suitcase was broken so I was like dragging my suitcase throughout the city hahaha. It was a workout let me tell ya! I felt really bad for the elder who had to drag my other suitcases...... The Trondheim apartment is right across the street from the church so that is way nice and the apartment is so cute!!! I will send pics next week. We ate dinner with the elders and got kebabs and ate by the water! Seeing greenies fresh from the MTC is always so funny! We had an appointment with a guy in his early 20's named Andreas and he was way nice, but so quiet so it was basically us three missionaries talking the whole time.

Torsdag:

- We had weekly planning which is always long.................... but you gotta get a weekly planning snack so we did that and I had musli and biola! Man I love that stuff!! And we had Institute!! It is so weird to have church activities to go to!! It is way nice!! We got served dinner and then had a lesson. Sister Rappleye and Elder Rappleye (the senior couple) are way awesome!! She is an amazing cook too!! I love them already!!

Fredag:

- Taught a man and I won't give much details other than he literally drained all of us and we were so exhausted after teaching him because he wouldn't listen and wanted to kinda bible bash

- We had a dinner appointment with a member and her less active son who is way chill! We are trying to get him involved in the YSA activities so hopefully that will help! She made us the most delicious meal I have had and it was Philippine food! It was seriously to die for!! We had this salad, and purple rice, meatballs, meat and sauce, chicken, and spring rolls. Dang was it good!!! After we shared a spiritual thought, we checked the time and had 5 minutes to get to the bus which was not close..... So we had to literally SPRINT to make the bus or we would have been stranded for 45 minutes..... It was pouring rain and my stomach was not happy with me.... BUT we made it to the bus stop just as the bus rounded the corner!!! Heavenly Father loves us. We looked like wet dogs, actually, out of breath wet dogs when we got on the bus hahaha. Than that night we went out to contact and see if a less active was home and it was pouring!!!! We were so wet!!! I learned to bring an umbrella with me every time I leave the house and a scarf.....

Lørdag:

-THEY HAVE SPORT HERE!!!! But it got canceled, but we have sport here!! So that is way exciting! They play soccer! We visited Hell (a city here) and met with an investigator and of course I fell asleep on the car ride back to the city (the Rappleyes drove us)

- We visited an investigator who doesn't speak much English or Norwegian so that is kinda hard, but we have a member from Stavanger who skypes in and translates Burmese for us so that is way nice!!

****Man do I LOVE Trondheim!! The city is so big! Sister Allen and I both came from small towns with branches, so we feel like country girls moving to New York City!! Man have I missed the city life!! It is so weird, but awesome to have a real church building, more than 20 members, activities to go to the church, lots of missionaries, and not having to contact all day everyday

Jordan's Tidbits:

- There are the cutest babies here and I CAN’T HOLD THEM!!! It is driving me nuts!!!

- I love love love Trios!! These girls are so awesome!

- The streets here at nighttime are literally dead.... so that makes contacting a little difficult, but we like to play what are the odds, so that makes contacting fun and interesting!!

- I love love love the city!! I have missed it!

-There is a really beautiful cathedral here.

**insert from Mom:  here is some information on the Cathedral. 

Nidaros Cathedral

The cathedral in Trondheim is the national sanctuary of Norway, built over the grave of St. Olav. Work began in 1070, but the oldest parts still in existence date from the middle of the 12th century. In 1869 extensive restorations started, and more than a century later, Nidaros Cathedral is yet to be completed.

-A family from Stavanger who I LOVE surprised called me yesterday and oh it made my day!!! I love the Gulbrandsen family!!!!

- Started to get sick this week...... being sick as a missionary is probably the worst.... but oh well sånn er livet!!

1 John 5:14: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us!

- Humility does not mean weakness!! Humility is the recognition of our dependence upon a higher power, a constant need for the Lord's support in his work!

**There is a great talk by Jeffrey R. Holland called, “Lord, I Believe”.  He starts it by saying:  “Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.”

You can go to this link to read the rest of the talk.  It is wonderful!!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng

ha en fin uke!!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson

Tromsø Trio has come to an end..... BUT the Trondheim Trio has begun!!

Transfers are here and..... I AM GETTING TRANSFERRED TO TRONDHEIM!!!!!!!

I am way excited to go to Trondheim, because I have always wanted to serve there, but also very sad to be leaving Tromsø! I have been here for 6 months! I love this branch and the people here so much!! I will be leaving a part of my heart with them that is for sure!  I loved my time here in Tromsø and serving with these wonderful missionaries!

 

MY NEW ADDRESS:

Søster Jordan Peterson

Eirik Jarls Gate 4

7030 Trondheim

Norway

We have an uneven amount of sisters in the mission which means there has to be a trio and guess what!!! The trio is moving to Trondheim!! I will be serving with Sister Sorensen (who was in the MTC with me) and Sister Allen who came out 2 transfers after me! I am so excited to be serving with them!! We have 6 Elders serving in Trondheim with us and that is a lot and two of them will be greenies. We got 14 new Elders this transfer and 14 last transfer!!! That is insane! Most of the Elders in the mission are training right now.... You could say our mission is really small - we have around 80 or 90 missionaries total. However I love having a small mission! You get really close!

SEPTEMBER 10 MARK THE DAY!!! THE NORTHERN LIGHTS CAME OUT AND THEY WERE SPECTACULAR!!!!!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! We were on our balcony jumping up and down and screaming hahaha! The Northern Lights were dancing!!! We felt like we were in Brother Bear! I am so glad I got to see them before I leave! They usually don't come out till October, so we were lucky!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in Tromsø for 4 transfers. I have bittersweet feelings about leaving. This place changed me and will always hold a special place in my heart. The people, investigators, and Gren (name of branch) have blown  me away and have influenced me in a way they will never know. Saying my goodbyes to everyone here and this beautiful city has been tough, but it isn't a goodbye, just a see you later! These people are my family and I can't imagine what my life would have been like if I never got to serve here.


 Jackson

 Janne

 Lill

 Petter

Zardasht



The Elders asked me to cut their hair this week because I jokingly told them I could cut hair..... well…. Next thing I know I am holding clippers and they realized I literally had no idea what I was doing.... BUT it turned out great!! I could start a business or something!

CEDRIC BELIEVES IN GOD!!!!!!! This is truly amazing!! A month ago he didn't care and didn't believe and now we asked him and he said *God and I are buds*!!!! I WANTED TO CRY!! His whole countenance has changed and it is amazing to see how far he has come from when I first stopped him on the street.

Contacting across the bridges has become a weekly thing. It sure is good exercise let me tell you!

We were banking on the other island and this lady let us in!!! We were so surprised and didn't know what to do.... That has never happened to me or us before! She was so nice, not positive, but very nice!

I really don't like when people cancel........ Seriously if you are aren't going to come then TELL US!!! This is just a life tip I have learned… to never be late and to hold to my plans I make with people.

This transfer really helped my whole mindset about contacting. I went from not being excited about it and basically dreading it, to loving it and letting it just be a part of my day. I owe that to Sister Nielsen. She is such a hard worker and go getter that she really helped me become the missionary I want to become and helped me learn to work harder than I ever have before! I am so thankful for her and Sister Wadley! I loved loved loved being in a trio with them and am so grateful for their examples to me. They have impacted me in ways they will never know!

We had a YSA night which is basically the whole Gren (branch) and it was so much fun! Kelly even came!! We had a spiritual lesson by Elder Crabtree and then game night!! It was so much fun to hang out with the members.

We went to visit Arnt and Bianca and when we sat down they were so excited!! Kelly their daughter started to mark and read in her scriptures and she hadn't touched them since we had given her, her own pair after she got baptized!! Literally I wanted to cry!! They told us they know we have had an influence on her and helping her by meeting with her and it literally made me feel so good! I am so grateful I had the chance to get to know this wonderful family and work with Kelly especially!

Arnt and Bianca

Jordan's Tidbits:

- If you want to check out my Mission President’s blog it is: www.thehillsinnorway.com (I’m on there a couple times)

- One of our less actives who has become active since I got here is John.  He used to rap and he showed us one of his songs and he rapped with Jeremiah!! (He is a famous rapper)

- Kelly told me I was her best friend and I almost cried.

- A guy I was teaching in Bergen that got baptized after I left blessed the sacrament a couple weeks ago and is preparing to go to the temple!!!

- The gospel is so true!!!!

- Decide today to choose to not be or get offended in any situation, even if the person is offending you on purpose.... It helps you be a happier person and helps you think and become more positive especially in sticky situations.

Åndelig Tanker:

So I had a really good spiritual thought this week and then I left my journal at home.... so to be continued until next week!

- Elder and Sister Crabtree gave us life advice and I loved it!!! Some things they said that really stuck out to me were;  *you need to become the person you want to marry. If you want your future husband to have a certain quality, etc... you should have that quality as well. You can't expect him to have something if you aren't that way as well.* Another thing that I loved was how they said to *work with your children and lead by example. Do the chores with them and work with them* The Crabtrees are going home in a week and I cannot believe it!! I was with them for 6 months and they are family to me! I am so grateful for them and all they have done for me and taught me!

- A goal not written Down is just a dream

- “Let obedience come naturally; don't let it be a burden.” I have really come to love this quote especially since I am a missionary. Being a missionary we have a lot of rules and are always told to be exactly obedient, etc..... to be honest in the beginning I hated when people said that, but now I understand why. We are obedient because we want to be and because we want to show our Mission President and the Lord that we love and respect them. I have found that when we learn to want to be obedient it comes more naturally and you have a greater desire to be obedient

GLAD I DERE!!!

ha en fin uke!!!

xoxoxox

Søster Peterson

 

**Though from Jordan’s Mom:

I just have to add a few words here.  Søster Peterson is 6 months away from coming home!  In one year I have seen her grow in so many ways.  She is learning to love the Lord more than she ever believed possible, she has such a strong testimony and she is learning so much about herself!  I had heard missions do this to these young adults, but until I saw it with my own eyes, it was hard to believe.  I could not be more proud of Søster Peterson.  Going on a mission was not an easy decision.  Being on a mission is hard.  BUT – she has faith, is obedient, and loves her Father in Heaven!!  She tells me over and over again, serving a mission was the best decision she has ever made.  I miss Søster Peterson more than words can say, but I also wouldn’t want her to be anywhere else!  It felt like my heart broke into a million pieces on the day we said goodbye one year ago!  I know it was just me knowing I would miss her more than I could imagine.  Now, one year later, I still miss her more than words can say, but my heart has grown with more love than I thought possible with her being gone.  I have grown to love the beautiful country of Norway and the Norwegian people from afar!  I cannot wait to visit there and see with my own eyes what Søster Peterson writes about in her letters.  I look forward to the end of 6 months when we see her again and we will say:  WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!

1 year!! 12 months!! #sixmonthstosexybegi​ns

There is no way I have been out for 1 year already!!!! I cannot believe it!! I still remember my first day in the MTC like it was yesterday! Time really does fly when you are on a mission. I won't lie, my first day at the MTC I was so overwhelmed and had no idea what I had just gotten myself into...... However now 12 months later, I can say, that was the best decision I have ever made and looking back at these past 12 months, the experiences, Challenges, Growth, knowledge that I have had, I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to share the gospel and change people's lives as well as my own!! I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and that he is always there for me. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ and for what he has done for me so that I can return to my Heavenly Father again. Norway has forever changed my life and so has being a missionary. The people I have met have also forever changed my life and I can't imagine not have come on a mission and meeting them or learning and growing and becoming the person I am today. I know without a doubt that the work I am doing along with thousands of other missionaries is true!! Jesus Christ's exact church is once again on the earth. I am so grateful for the love and support I have received these past 12 months and words cannot express my appreciation and gratitude!

Well….my big winter coat has officially come out of hiding..... it is September and 45 degrees outside!! This is going to be a long winter...... I got 3 weeks of summer at least!

I am sad to say that the darkness is slowly getting worse every night.  Before I know it mørketid (winter darkness) will be here!

I love how people recognize that I am a missionary and that I am doing something good. It is the greatest feeling when people ask us to pray for them

Last Monday we watched How to Train Your dragon and Hercules!! It was the best day ever!!! We put comfy clothes on and wrapped up in our blankets! It was so fun! We started out How to Train Your dragon in Norwegian and then switched it back to English hahaha it was a little hard to understand......

We met with Bianca and she showed us her job! She runs a gambling and like mini Casino – so crazy!

We got a referral from another area and her name is Romina. We haven't been able to really get ahold of her and finally this week we got to meet with her!! Oh my gosh she is a gem!!! She is so solid and wants to get baptized! She is the cutest thing ever and so nice!! She kept feeding us and making sure we had enough to eat. We are so excited to keep meeting with her, the only problem is she has to wait 3 years to gain citizenship in Norway so she can't get baptized for 3 more years....... However we look forward to meeting with her and teaching her so that way when she can get baptized she will be ready!

We heart attacked Lill and Linda's doors this week! I love doing things for the members here!! It is so fun!

My companions are the best and made me a card and sign for my 1 year mark!  The sign says, "Happy One Year!"

So we had one day where we had literally not one appointment except for one with Jackson and it was at night so....... we contacted for 6 hours straight!!! Yes that is a long time! However we made it fun! We walked and contacted across the Tromso bridge that connects the two islands and then we banked and contacted on the other island. Man was I exhausted at the end of the day! However it is the best thing ever to go to bed at night knowing you did everything you could that day and worked your hardest! While we were contacting, we said so many prayers for Heavenly Father to help guide us to where we needed to show our faith we knelt down on the side of the road on a sidewalk and prayed! Yes we knelt down in public and prayed. I will admit we did laugh, but hey we are missionaries and we needed help!

I haven't always been a huge fan of contacting, but Sister Nielsen has really helped me learn to love it and have fun when I do it!! I have even gotten better about my fear of stopping guys between the ages of 18 and 30! She is so awesome and she is encouraging and such a great example and support for me! We literally stop everyone that walks past us on the street and don't let anyone get by!

Okay, so Sister Wadley makes the best enchiladas ever!!! They are something we have weekly!  I love them!

Companionship Inventory with these two has probably been one of my favorite things!!

While banking we met this lady who talked to us through her window and Sister Wadley shook her hand through the window hahahaha.  The sad thing is, Sister Nielsen and I thought it was totally normal until we realized after talking about it, that doing that is not normal.

One night while praying about our plans for the next day we all prayed then said what we thought we should do..... I was the only one who didn’t get the same answer and I just started laughing and said it must be falsk åpenbaring (false revelation), we can do your guys idea!! hahaha

Cedric is really coming along!!! His whole countenance has changed and he prays and reads and says he feels good!! He is so awesome!!! He is really trying to develop a belief in God and it is so cool to see how far he has come from the first time I met him!!

Fast Sunday was fantastic as always!! Except we went to visit Kelly after church and she put chocolate chip cookies in front of us on purpose!!! That was not nice and I just pushed them away so I didn't have to smell them or look at them.

On the way to Lill's I saw a man we met on the street get on the front of the bus, Sister Nielsen saw him too and told me to go talk to him.... What do I do? I walk up to the front of the bus and poke him and start talking to him. Yes I felt very awkward, but we got an appointment with him so it was worth it!

Lill invited us and the elders over for dinner and a game night!! Oh it was so fun!! It is a game they have in Norway and I don't even know how to explain it, but it was way fun and me and Elder Gingrich of course won! Sister Nielsen and I should have been on the same team because we are both competitive and we were getting really feisty.  Because it was fast Sunday the next day we went and got a kebab after and I wish America had kebabs!! They are so good!! Sister Nielsen must have been really tired because she was so funny and was embarrassing us in the store and kept telling the man how good he made her kebab hahaha

Man do I really dislike when people don't show up for appointments or cancel on us last minute......

Lill bore her testimony at Church on Sunday and that is HUGE!!! I was so proud of her and she did an amazing job!!! Also my friend Edel from Stavanger is still bearing her testimony every fast Sunday and I am so so proud of her!!!

I cannot believe it has already been 6 weeks!!! No way!!! On Sunday we have moves calls and I honestly have no idea if I am staying or leaving Tromsø.... I really hope I stay for one more transfer, but because I have already been here for 4, there is a big chance I am leaving.....

Jordan Tidbits:

- 6 months to sexy begins...... and so did the 10 kr pastries sale down the street......

- In the words of Elder Gingrich, “Whale Season has begun!!” As in the winter blubber on our bodies will now be coming out due to all the treats that comes with fall and winter hahaha!

- I thought a mission would help my competitiveness, but some things never change haha (thanks mom, I got that from you)

- Sister Wadley named her scarf noodle and we lost it so we were going around our small apartment yelling noodle where are you!?

- Sister Nielsen came to the realization at how weird a mission makes you this week and may or may not have had a breakdown because she thinks she is weird and she is going home in 3 months

- We are so exhausted and tired by the end of the day that we just laugh at everything and sometimes while we are praying and can't even finish the prayer so we have to start over....

- We love messing with each other and I love these Girls!!!

- Sister Crabtree’s District lunches are something I look forward to all week!!!

- We had a Pinterest hair night before going to bed one night and Sister Wadley is so good at doing my hair!!! She did it kinda like a great Gatsby hairdo (which a great Gatsby party is on my bucket list so if I ever have one or go to one I am doing my hair like that!)

Åndelig Tanker:

- When we involve the Lord in our climb and decide to make a new start in any area of life, we can reach heights we never dreamed possible

- Involve God along the way!

- God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs!

- Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.... For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye? We must learn to feel towards others as Jesus did!

- Some of us serve only those we enjoy being around and avoid all others. Jesus has commanded us to love and serve everyone. We must especially serve those we do not like or have been unkind to us, etc.... Mosiah 4:15-19

ha en fin uke dere!!!

IF YOU SEE MISSIONARIES TALK TO THEM OR SAY HI!!! Pretend that it is me!! BE NICE TO THEM!!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson