11 months!!!!

11 months what...................... I am getting into the single digits of months til I come home folks uff da!

So moves calls were yesterday and..... I will be STAYING in Tromsø for another transfer!! This will be number 4! Sadly Søster Bender will be leaving me and going to Stavanger, but I am way excited for her to be companions with my last companion Søster J and to go to the place where her mom grew up!! I will be getting Søster Nicole Neilsen! I have served around her in Stavanger and she was an STL who went on splits with me a couple times! So I already know her! We are also getting ELDERS!! I am way excited for that!! Elder Gingrich and a brand new greenie Elder Hoops will be coming up here! I am way pumped because Elder Gingrich served with me in Stavanger and he became one of my best buds!

Here is my address in case any of you forgot and want to send me a letter or something(: ''cough cough''.  I LOVE hearing from you!!!

MY ADDRESS:

Søster Jordan Peterson

Storgata 12B

9008 Tromsø

Norway

We met with Ole (member) this week and played chess like usual and shared a spiritual thought with him. Søster Bender beat him..... twice!!!! Let's just say you could tell he wasn't very happy especially since Søster Bender just learned and he has been playing his whole life. Ole is funny because whenever we talk to him and ask him questions about the gospel his answers are always like *well obviously the Book of Mormon comes from God* like who wouldn't believe that?

Janne (eternal investigator) had her daughter cut our hair this week! That was way nice of her to do especially for free considering the prices here to cut hair are so dang expensive!

 So Jackson our investigator wanted to take Søster Bender and I to dinner. Oh my gosh was that the nicest restaurant and food I have ever been to or eaten in my life! It was an Asian restaurant and the food was to die for!! I wish I could have taken a picture. We had this type of salmon stuff and chocolate cake which Jackson forced us to get! We were so full, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.... That was seriously the nicest thing ever for Jackson to do! It was so fun and he is just the best!! We told him we didn't have to go anywhere nice, but he told us * You are my girls and we are going to eat expensive food! So you better come hungry!*

 The STL's came to visit and it was Søster House and Søster Larsen!!! It was so great to see the both of them again! It was probably my favorite and best splits I have had with STL's so far! It was so fun and we had such a great time teaching people and kontakting. I loved being with Søster House again! She is awesome, I just love her! They both gave awesome advice and really helped me out and some of the things they talked to me about or told me were answers to my prayers so that was way cool! We had a goal of finding two new investigators that day and before we went out we prayed about it (missionaries always pray before they leave or go anywhere) and in the first 30 minutes all four of us went out to kontakt we got 2 new investigators!! I have a strong testimony that when you go out with a goal and have Heavenly Father involved, HE WILL HELP YOU!!!!!

A miracle happened when Søster House and I were together! We taught Lill (member) and for the first time since I have been in Tromsø Lill prayed with us!! She struggles with prayer and we have never gotten her to say a prayer in front of us before and she did it!!! It was the coolest thing ever!!!

 Missionaries truly are blessed while on their missions!! Søster Bender and I were being running nuns again trying to catch a bus and I always (even while walking) trip or have my ankle like give out and it did that while I was running! Let's just say the after math wasn't so good and I fell into Søster Bender and she was dying laughing. Something definitely popped in my ankle, but I guess it was a missionary blessing that I haven't had any side effects from the fall because from the way I fell something should have happened to my ankle!

We went to visit Mami again and the friend that was there last time was there too! It was way awesome because we got to have a really cool lesson about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and share some clips from the restoration video with them. The friend Jude asked some great questions and we are hoping to meet with him this week sometime! So something Søster Bender and I learned was that when Africans cook, they cook for everyone! We had told Mami we weren't hungry and she was like *You aren't going to eat my food!?* So of course we couldn't say no! She made some kind of African soup again and I have to say it was very interesting.....Søster Bender was in the little kitchen with her and told me to come here so I walked in and about passed out! In the sink it was bloody water filled with a full chicken and other body parts that I have no idea what they were.  They were just soaking..... Then when Mami gave us the stuff to put on the rice she goes *You gotta get the meat!* Søster Bender and I go well if what we put on our plate isn't meat than what is it!?!? Needless to say we didn't ask what we were eating and did not want to know!!! So we were eating it and those that know me know that I hate bones touching or being in my mouth and I took a bite and felt like a vessel from the mysterious meat pop and hit a bone in my mouth.... I looked at Søster Bender as like the food is coming out of my mouth and go *I'm going to be sick.....* She is dying laughing as I go into the corner and half gag my food back into my bowl and quickly throw it away before Mami could see.......

Mami does hair for a living and she was doing her hair before we came over. Søster Bender asked her to do her hair and next thing we know she is legit weaving her hair with some Orange colored hair!! Hahahahaha-  Søster Bender got her hair weaved!!!!!!! We got home and were looking at it and I go *I think you are going to have to cut your hair to get those out.....* Søster Bender was freaking out because Mami had weaved the front of her head and did like 5 of them!! Luckily Søster Bender figured out how to get them out, but it was so funny!

 We had a YSA night which is basically the whole branch and they aren't really like young so I don't know if it is technically YSA, but oh well! Lill, Petter, Zardasht, John, and Ramy came! (Selvano stopped by, but left soon because he had his baby daughter with him) It was seriously the funnest night ever!! Elder Crabtree gave a spiritual thought and then we all played games and had the best time together!! I played Phase 10 and man oh man did I really have to control my competitive side and remember I am a missionary haha. It was so fun to be with these awesome people and laugh and have a great time! hahahaha Elder Crabtree had to Google for Søster Bender and Zardasht the rules on how to play checkers. We all got a hoot out of that when we found out the real rules!

 

Our Tromsø Branch

 

This week did have some really rough days..... Søster Bender and I after much prayer and fasting have decided to take a break with Ramy. That was probably one of the worst things I have ever done on my mission. Yes I did cry..... we aren't going to stop meeting with him completely, but not have him be so much of a focus for a little while. We have both had impressions that he isn't prepared for the gospel yet and I know I have been pushing them away and ignoring them. Ramy is the best and we will always be friends! Søster Bender and I have both put so much effort, hours, lessons, time, prayers, tears, and fasts for him over these past 12 weeks and have invested so much in him, but right now he just isn't ready for the gospel.....Something I have learned as a missionary is that when you are doing your job, and bearing testimony, and bringing the spirit, if the person is open and ready, it shouldn't matter what you say, they will accept the gospel. With Ramy we have had our ups and downs and have felt the spirit so strongly and many times it doesn't even phase him. Which breaks my heart, but I know that one day he will be ready and have no doubt in my mind that he will get baptized some day! Something someone told me was that *You have to have faith and trust in the Lord that when you let someone go, he will replace that person with someone who is prepared* That is exactly what I am doing and am leaving this all up to the Lord!

Church this week was awesome!!!! We had so many visitors from around the world and it was great! It was such a cool experience for me to see that people who are on vacation will still go to Church! It was fast Sunday this Sunday too and some of them even bore their testimony! One of the visitors was a boy from the states. Funny story.... His mom somehow got ahold of a member's number in Alta and called her to get our number so that we could go meet him and bring him to Church because he didn't know where to go!

Zardasht bore his testimony in Church!!! I was so proud of him!! He is a refugee and is from Syria then moved to Greece and now Norway. English or Norwegian isn't his first Language and we have helped him a little with his Norwegian. He bore his testimony in the Norwegian that he knew and it was awesome!!!

 

Have I mentioned how much I love the Reynolds kids??

Søster Bender and I were out kontakting this week and the funniest thing happened!!! We were walking down the street and this group of Asian tourists said *hello sisters* jokingly because they had seen our tags. Søster Bender stops in her tracks turns around and yells *Hey wait!! And runs up to them and goes *Are you members!?* All excitedly! I was dying!!!! The group of people looked at her like she was crazy and walked away laughing...... Søster Bender learned the hard way that we aren't in America hahahah

Not gonna lie this week Satan worked real hard on me and it was not fun at all! Missionary work isn't always sunshine and rainbows even though we all wish it would be! Being a missionary is the best thing I have ever done, but also one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Fra Søster Bender:

Firday we had an institute thing and even though there were only 5 people besides us missionaries, it was so much fun! One of the members, who is way smart and knows 6 different languages, taught me how to play chess the other week and now I keep beating him and he is kind of a sore loser so it's pretty funny. I'm a huge chess fan now and I will challenge anyone.

Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. Zardasht is a Kurdish refugee. He can speak VERY little English and Norwegian. He has been practicing saying his testimony in Norwegian ever since I got here and finally said it in church!! I knew exactly what he was going to say because I've read it so many times to help him, but I have never heard something so sincere and honest. It was super special. All he said was (in Norsk)  "Good morning brothers and sisters. I want to bare my testimony. I am thankful to be a member of the church. When I read the Book of Mormon for the first time, I felt like I already knew it. My soul was filled with peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." There are many people in this far north city with stories that you read about in the news. These people are forced out of their countries because of the wars. Most of them don't know where their family is or if they are even alive. I have met one too many people with this background. I've heard about these kind of stories, but it is something else when  these people with these backgrounds become so close to your heart. Though I am not serving in a 3rd world country, Tromsø has brought me to be humble. I will never forget some of the experiences I've had with these people. It's a whole different world.

We were at Mamie's and she made this African soup thing again, of course we had to eat it even though we told her we had already ate. I look in the kitchen sink and there is SO MUCH RAW MEET JUST SITTING IN WATER I ALMOST THRU UP! I have no idea what it was. I saw a big leg in there. I was picking out my little serving of it and I thought I was getting meat, but she comes up to me and says "no, you have to get the meat" I thought i was getting the meat! I have no idea what was in that soup.... We just had to scarf it down. Sister Peterson bit into something and it popped in her mouth hahahah she spit it all out when Mamie turned away then had to run to the trash! I was dying

When the clouds are out, the mountains look like the misty mountains in Lord of the Rings and I always sing that song from the Hobbit

Åndelig Tanker:

In Helaman Chapter 12 verse 3, 4, and 5. It talks about how quick men are to do iniquity and sin and how slow they are to remember God. Nobody is perfect and I know I am guilty of being slow to remember God just like the people in the Book of Mormon. However I think it is important that we all work to have the Savior in our everyday lives more each day! It can be by saying a prayer, or reading from the scriptures, or by putting a picture on your mirror. I promise that by including the Savior in everyday life more, you will feel a difference, and be able to quickly remember the Lord in the good and bad times!

It also talks about how the Lord gives us trials to chasten us and turn to Him and without the trials we will not remember Him. Many times in life when things are going good, we forget to include the Lord and so it makes sense that he will give us Challenges to help remind us that we still need Him!

My motto for this next transfer:

Ether 12:27

*Og hvis menneskene kommer til meg, vil jeg vise dem deres svakhet. jeg gir menneskene svakhet så de kan være ydmyke, og min nåde er tilstrekkelig for alle mennesker som ydmyker seg for meg og har tro på meg, da vil jeg la det SVAKE BLI TIL STYRKE for dem!*

I know that the Lord gives us weaknesses to help us overcome them and turn to him for help. With the Lord all things are possible and when we accept our faults and imperfections and work to strengthen them, the Lord will help us and our weaknesses WILL become strengths!

ha en fin uke dere!!! glad i dåkker!

xoxo

Søster Peterson

The Miracles Have Not Ceased!!

Written July 27, 2015

Tromsø is still the miracle city!!! Ever since Søster House and I first opened the area, it has been called the city of miracles and I am proud to say that the miracles are still happening!!

Søster Bender's prayers have finally been answered........ I fell off the bed... let me tell ya, I forgot how high up I was! I am on the top bunk and am sleeping on two mattresses, so it is pretty high for me at least! Our phone was on the chair next to the bed and it started ringing. I was already in bed, but I saw Søster House's name on it and got way too excited!! Next thing I know I was laying on the floor with my blankets around me and Søster Bender was laying on the ground dying of laughter!!

Met with Ole again this week and played chess and talked about the gospel. Ole is kinda lonely so it is always so funny because he will always just text us randomly and see if we want to play chess or go get something to eat. Søster Bender and I are learning pretty quickly how to play chess! Søster Bender is getting pretty good at it!

A couple weeks ago we met this lady on the street named Mimi. She is from Singapore and super nice. We took her to the church, talked about the Book of Mormon, and then got her number. She finally called us back this week! She invited us to come over to her house! Søster Bender and I were so excited, but a little nervous because her husband was going to be there and he is Norwegian, so we weren't sure how he was going to react to us. We had nothing to worry about though! They were super nice and she made a strawberry cream cake for us! We chatted for a bit, than we brought up the gospel. She was so excited afterwards when she was talking to us, because she said that was the first time her husband has ever stayed around or sat and talked about God. She said he usually leaves the room! So that was so cool! AND THEN we were getting ready to leave and they gave us smoked salmon! They just gave it to us and told us recipes to use with it and everything. They are the nicest people ever!

So Cedric moved to a place about an hour boat ride away, but we still have contact with him. He texted us the other day and asked if he could call us to ask about some questions he had while reading the Book of Mormon. He wanted us to explain Jacob 5 to him..... I asked him if it was okay if we took it in English because that Chapter is hard enough to explain in English!! He is so awesome and is reading from the beginning! He wants to read it all the way through and is interested in praying and receiving answers from God. He has potential for sure!

We met With Old Man Frank this week and boy is he a hoot! He actually really is interested about learning about the Mormons, but gets distracted really easily when we talk with him. However we were able to clarify and explain the Book of Mormon to him. After we met, he took Søster Bender and I out for ice cream. He is just the cutest old man! He came to Church on Sunday too!! We talked to him afterwards and he told us he wasn't sure if he liked it or not because there wasn't any shouting and yelling.... uff... hahahaha and then during sacrament he was like yelling and couldn't decide if he wanted to take the sacrament or not.... Søster Bender and I just looked at each other and tried not to laugh.

Sister Rupp well not Sister Rupp anymore, but a former missionary was back in Norway with her family to visit. She was in Tromsø and we got to meet up with her! She invited us to eat breakfast with her and her family at their hotel for the two days they were here and oh my gosh......... no joke it was a 5 star buffet! Søster Bender had legit tears in her eyes when we walked in! I couldn't believe my eyes! Søster Bender goes I cannot believe this is all free!! Let's just say I have never felt more like a movie star in my life before, but also felt so out of place haha. They even had AMERICAN SYRUP!!!!!!!!! I was in heaven!

We met with the Reynolds (the American Family) and did a fun faith activity with them! We talked about what faith is and shared Alma 32:21. We then had the kids pick out of a bag something and they had to feel it and guess what it was, but they had to keep their eyes closed. Then we did the faith trust fall! They loved that one! Thankfully Søster Bender caught me..... It's when you fall backwards and the person is supposed to catch you.  Yeah I was praying she wouldn't try to be funny and drop me in front of the kids... That family is so cute! They are moving back to the states in December though, our little branch is going to miss them! Their kids are the cutest and so feisty!

So I forgot to mention last week that Jackson came again to Church and brought Mami J and this week they were both back again!! They are the best!! I love them! Jackson's suits he wears to Church cracks me up!

We went to visit Mami and while we were there Jackson came and brought a friend with him! We got to talk to his friend and answer some questions he had and then Jackson without realizing it was basically bearing testimony of what he has learned so far and saying how he liked the Church, and he is searching for truth, etc... Then it got kinda awkward because Jackson and his friend started arguing about Catholics and other religions and Søster Bender and I were just sitting there and didn't know what to do hahah. Mami made some African Soup for us all and it was like a big family dinner! It was the funnest thing ever and probably one of my top favorite days of my mission! I just love these people!

 

While kontakting last week Søster Bender and I stopped a man and made an appointment. We both didn't have high hopes that he would actually show, but he did and we got a return appointment! His name is Sulten. He was very nice and interested in the Book of Mormon.

So Søster Bender and I were out one day kontakting and we saw Selvano and Dennis together with some of their friends! We went up to talk to them and Selvano started telling all of them about what we do and how they need to meet with us, etc.... Selvano is seriously the best guy to get referrals from! Well we ended up getting one of their phone numbers and met with him and he seems pretty positive! His name is Emmanuel!

The Crabtrees were gone this week so Søster Bender and I got to teach Primary!! It wasn't too bad because there are only 3 kids and they are siblings. They are so smart and probably know more about the gospel than I did before I came on a mission.....

Moves calls are on Sunday! Wow! I can't believe it has already been another 6 weeks! Rumors have it that I am staying and Søster Bender will be leaving me..... booo..... We will have to wait and see what happens! So until NeXT week!

More details from Søster Bender:

After a lesson with Old-man Frank, he asked us if we wanted to get some ice-cream so of course we went to go get ice-cream. As we were eating it outside, we ran into a sister missionary who had served in Norway a year (ish) ago and was visiting with her mother and older brother! They invited us to join them for breakfast in the morning at their hotel. IT WAS 5 STAR BUFFET everything was so good and fancy and there was SO MUCH FOOD!!! I was so happy when I saw pancakes and chocolate chips, my eyes started to water. I have never been so happy in the morning in my entire life. The best part is we went back the next morning :) Huge shout out to the Rupp fam.

Mimi is someone we stopped on the street last week. She is so cute!! She is from Singapore. She told us about how she was at one of her friends house's when they saw 2 elders approaching their door. Her friend goes "watch this" then grabs a beer and goes to answer the door. "Whadda ya want?!" It's pretty mean, but I think it's funny. She made us a cake and her husband, who is Norwegian, even sat with us! She said it's a huge miracle he sat with us. He said "I am not interested, but I will sit down." Good enough for us! They are way nice. We were talking about fish at one point and the husband just leaves the room and comes back with this huge smoked salmon! He told us that we can't be living in Norway without having tried smoked salmon. So, they gave it to us and told us how to eat. It's pretty good and we still have it in the fridge haha. It was a pretty big piece of fish.

Saturday was probably one of the best days yet. We went to Mamie J's! We knock on her door and she flings the door open and sings "HiiiiiiiiIIIIII" hahah it would be funny if you were there and knew her. We helped her finish cleaning her room and what not. All of a sudden, we hear Jackson's voice and he comes running in with another friend!  We got to talk to his friend and answer some questions he had and then Jackson, without realizing it, was basically bearing testimony of what he has learned so far and saying how he liked the Church, and he is searching for truth.

Jordan's Tidbits:

- Proselyting during the day on P days is the best! You get your time done during the day and then you can have the night to do what you want! I would highly recommend it haha

- The running nuns are back!! Søster Bender and I got to run through the town to catch a bus this week.....

- Søster Bender got kinda pooped on by a bird and it was the funniest thing I have ever seen!! hahahaha Her reaction was priceless! I thought she was going to cry and it literally was the tiniest drop I have ever seen

Quote of the week:

Guy on street: Do you guys go out?

Me: Yeah! We go out and eat every once in a while!

Bender: He meant like out to the Clubs........

****Perfect example of how you know you are a missionary hahahaha*

ha en fantastisk uke folkens!!!!

glad i dere!!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson

MISSIONARY TAN LINES ARE THE NEW THING!

written July 20^th, 2015

Well I had finished my email and was about to hit send and it got deleted..... I wanted to cry it was seriously so long.  I wasn't even going to type it again or try to write one again because I am so mad and it took me so long and I have like no time, but I know my mother will kill me if I don't....so here goes round 2, but I’m sure some things will be left out......

So this week was full of ups and downs! (week July 13^th – 19^th)

On Monday we played basketball with John a less active who is becoming active and some of his friends! I really thought they would be good at basketball, but  they were terrible!! Søster Bender and I were way better than them and that is saying alot! hahaha. One of them was almost 7 feet tall and he couldn't even get it in when he stood right by the basket! It was fun to mess around and have a good time though!

Being the wonderful sister missionaries we are, Søster Bender got a phone call from some of the elders who we are friends with (Drage and Edwards) telling us they had a rough week, etc.. and really wanted brownies from us! Well considering we are way up above the Arctic Circle and nowhere close to them, they asked if we could make some and send them to them! And what do we do? We made brownies and sent them to them! Little did we know and we found out the next day after we had sent them that they had called some other sisters to do the same thing!

 

Funny Story:  Søster Bender and I were at the Church (its actually an office building since we don't have a Church) and I was setting up the Joseph Smith film to watch with Zardasht. I went to sit down and totally missed the chair! My legs were up in the air and I had knocked over chairs on my way down hahaha,  Søster Bender was dying laughing and of course Elder Crabtree walked in at that moment and saw me sprawled out on the floor with chairs on top of me and he just laughed and walked away.

Søster Bender and I went on a hike/walk with Brenda! That was way nice to be in a normal environment and be able to talk about anything and the gospel.

We FINALLY got in touch with Atim! The guy who knows Arabic and can help us with Ramy! We set up a skype appointment and got to have him teach with us! That was such a blessing because Ramy has really been struggling with modern day prophets and Atim was able to explain and help out a lot!

I GOT SUNBURNED!!! Hallelujah!! On Saturday it was the first day in 11 months that I was able to go outside with just a short sleeve shirt on and no jacket or cardigan! It was a glorious day! I even got a tan line!! Too bad the sun was only out for that day, but we made the most of it! We were out all day contacting and it was just a good day! We even ran into President and Sister Hill while we were contacting in the city!

President and Sister Hill came into town to visit Tromsø! It was so great to get to see them and get to know them more! I just love them! They are awesome and so funny! They came and checked out our apartment Sunday morning and did studies with us! I don't think I have ever seen an apartment so clean before in my life!!  Søster Bender and I scrubbed the apartment from top to bottom!

Dingaan finally came back from vacation so we met with him on Saturday and of course had to take advantage of the weather and got ice cream together!! Well we were sitting on a bench talking about how Dingaan needs to go on a mission! He would be the best missionary ever! He has such a strong testimony and love for the gospel and wants everyone to be able to be as happy as him and have the knowledge that he has! He is just the best! He always asks us *Why don't people accept the gospel! They are so

dumb!* While we were talking, a girl on the bench next to us asks us if we are missionaries and we make small talk than she continues reading her magazine and we continue talking with Dingaan. Well after a few minutes I see her get up and I run over to her because one I couldn't let her get away! Norwegians do not just talk to random people and they especially don't ask you if you are a missionary and say that is interesting and cool! So I ran over to her and talked to her for a bit and learned that what she knew about Mormons was from South Park.. haha of course.... and next thing we know we are all 4 walking to the Church to give her a Book of Mormon!! It was the coolest thing ever! We got to talk to her about it and had Dingaan share his testimony! He told her that he didn't believe at first, but he read it and prayed and gave it a chance! At the end she looked straight at him and said *I am really glad you were here! I can relate to you a lot and I love that you are a convert and new to this!* It was the coolest thing ever!!

We ate dinner with President and his wife and the Crabtree’s and it was a grand ol time!! Eating home cooked meals is probably the best thing ever! Especially since we have no members and really if you are in a big city you don’t get feed at all anyways. Sister Crabtree feeds Søster Bender and I once a week (: she is the best! I may have even gotten transfer rumors out of President and found out I will be staying here next transfer! (Transfers are August 5) So that is good news! The sad news is Sister Bender will not be.... booo........

CHURCH WAS A MIRACLE we had 11 investigators in Church total!! THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN!!! Especially in Norway!! Usually the max you would get is 4 and that is if you are really lucky! I guess President coming to town really helps and I have never seen so many people in the church! Like this is a record for Tromsø!! There was less actives and people I had never even heard of that came to Church! It was so awesome!! After Church we had a little lunch thing and that was great! Everyone got to talk and it was such a fun time! I wish every Sunday could be like this!!

Of course when Søster Bender and I sing in Church it has the most people ever!! We did really well though! We sang Nearer My God to Thee in Norwegian the first two verses and in English the last verse!(: We harmonized and it sounded pretty cool!

Old man frank came to Church!! Remember the old man that bought Søster Bender and I boller? Well we saw him on the street again and invited him to church. Not thinking anything of it, we get to church and you will never guess who shows up... FRANK!! Søster Bender and I were dying!! I was talking with him in the hallway with Sister Hill and he bends down really close to my face and goes *Where's the coffee?* and I go we don't have coffee and he starts busting up laughing......

The Crabtrees are awesome! Søster Crabtree is like our mom/Grandma! We just love her!! The Crabtree’s are going out of town for the week so it will just be us in Tromsø!

Søster Bender and I were walking to the Crabtree’s to go eat dinner with them and President and Sister Hill and Søster Bender spit and the wind was blowing my way and it went straight into my face and mouth!! She was dying laughing, but I wasn't so amused.....

Jordan's Tidbits:

- Norwegian ice cream is to die for!! The sprinkles here are flavored!!

- You learn to be very creative with the food and recipes you make and you learn to eat things you would have never eaten at home

- You know you are a sister missionary when you have your investigator ask you why you and your companion get awkward and act weird when a male compliments us hahahaha  #missionaryprobs  That is what happens when you train yourself to tune out and ignore people when they try to flirt with you, etc....

Quotes of the week:

Søster Bender: *Sometimes when I am sitting in Church I look at you and just get really happy you are my Companion(:*

Søster Bender: I have a confession

Me: What did you do......

Søster Bender: The other day when I was getting something out of the cupboard your cup was right below me and I spit in it...

Me: Did I drink it!?

Søster Bender: Yes hahaha you drank the whole thing!

Dingaan Our New convert: *If Christ endured to the end than why can't we? *Life is good when you have the gospel! *Amen to the priesthood!

Åndelig Tanker/Invitation:

- I have come to learn how much I love being in a branch! Something that I have learned is that when you are in a branch, the people that come because there are so few really want to come to church and have a love and desire for the gospel. Going to church shouldn't just be a routine thing. You should want to go to church to learn and it refuels you for the week and helps you start your week off on the right note! My invitation for this week and hopefully you will do it not just this week, but it is to keep your phone in the car, at home, or turned off while you are at church. We have one day set aside in the week for the Lord. He asks of us to go to church for three or however many hours you go. It is three hours of the week that we are at church. You can give up your phone, texting, snap chat, etc.. for three hours and if you can't or that is something that is hard for you, you really need to re think your priorities.....Nothing drives me more crazy than seeing youth and adults in church on their phone. Come on People!

The Joseph Smith film is seriously so awesome! It tells all about Joseph Smith, his life, and how the Church began! It shows just how inspired he was and how true this gospel is! Joseph Smith did not write the Book of Mormon or make the Mormon Church he simply reformed the Church and with God's help and power brought back the same exact Church Christ had when he was on the Earth. He didn't write the Book of Mormon, he just translated it with God's help. In no way does the Book of Mormon replace the Bible, it is just another testament of Jesus Christ and more knowledge and guidance for us to have today. Who wouldn't want to read more of God's Word?

Here is the awesome Joseph Smith film! There is one that is 20 minutes and one that is an hour! I would recommend the hour long one!

short film: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2008-06-01-the-restoration?lang=eng

 

long film: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2006-05-01-joseph-smith-prophet-of-the-restoration-2002-version?lang=eng

 

ha en fin uke!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson

Sunday Miracles!!

On Monday and Tuesday we flew to Trondheim to have a Zone Conference to meet our new President and his wife!! President Hill and his wife are just the best!! They are so awesome and I love them!! They are very different from our last mission president, but in a good way! It is so crazy that they are gone now! With a new mission president comes new rules...... and one of the new rules they gave the sisters was..... WE NO LONGER HAVE TO WEAR NYLONS OR TIGHTS!!!!! We are no longer required to wear them in the summer or basically whenever! They told us to use our best judgement and wear them when appropriate for example Sundays at church. Pretty sure all the sisters were crying tears of joy (the only bummer part is that in Tromsø it is too cold not to wear tights.....)

President and Sister Hill talked a lot about how much they look up to and are grateful for the senior couples that come out and serve. They leave their families, grandchildren, etc... And it is not an easy thing to do. Really strengthened my appreciation for the senior couples! It was very touching!

When we got to Trondheim we met up with the other missionaries in the airport and took the train to town together! The elders forgot to tell Søster Bender, Firth,  Carpenter, and I that we got off at a different stop than them, so we all got off together and went and ate a delicious kebab! Then we had to walk probably 5 miles maybe 10 in the pouring rain with our suitcases to the Trondheim sisters apartment.......... We were soaked and so was everything inside our suitcases hahaha oh well!! It is always a fun time having sleepovers with a bunch of sisters!! Also to see other missionaries since Søster Bender and I are loners up here.

 Sister Sims... she is a cutie!

 

 Friends from the MTC!!

 

 Elder Nilsson and Elder Duncan.  So great to see them again.  We served in Stavanger together.  The two of them go home at the end of the transfer.  And below is Sister Carpenter.  She just came to Norway.  It was great meeting her.  It was fun to realize we know mutual people from Idaho!~

We took the train back to the airport the next day after the conference with Elder Hinton (my fellow Texan – he is from Ft Worth) and his companion Elder Kemp (his voice is like way deep). We all kinda split up when we sat down so we could talk to people, but were still fairly close together. The guy next to me was totally taking snapchats of me and Sister Bender and Elder Kemp and like not being secretive about it at all. Elder Hinton who had been sitting behind me had obviously had enough so next thing I know in Norwegian of course I hear him asking the guy next to me if everything is okay because he sees that he is taking pictures of us! Needless to say I was dying and Elder Hinton is a champ! He was so riled up after we got off the train, he was like he is so lucky I am a missionary right now....His Texan side was coming out hahaha ***Hint to Elders and guys: Don't be afraid to call someone out or stand up for other people! It really shows a lot about you!

For the first time the sun was out all day!!! For two days in a row!! Søster Bender and I took advantage and did our weekly planning outside to try to get a tan as best as we could in missionary clothes hahaha and to enjoy the sunshine!

I gave another talk in church on Sunday about honesty. That's what you get for serving in a small branch and with summer vacation in Norway and the few members you do have are out of town! I think I did way better on this one Norwegian wise than the last one, so that is good!

Sunday was the best day ever! I may or may not have cried hahahaha. We had 4 investigators in church and for here that is like a lot and a miracle!! That never happens especially since two of them just like showed up randomly. Jackson always comes in snazzy suits to church and he brought one of our other investigators Mami (say it like mommy) He went to her house (they are friends) and said get in we are going to church! He is the best!! We also had one of our recent investigators we began teaching who is young and way cool named Cedric come to church and of course Janne. When I saw all these people I was just so happy I did cry tears of joy and Søster Bender and I couldn't stop smiling at each other! People are finally coming to church!! It was the best Sunday ever!!!

John, one of the less actives who is becoming to be not less active anymore hit it off real well with Cedric! That made us so happy because he will be able to be fellowshipped and have a friend and it will help John too!

Cedric invited Søster Bender and I to go on this hike thing with him. So we went and let me tell you, we were not prepared for this hike! We were in jeans and dying and breathing hard haha it was kinda embarrassing! It was like all up hill and about an hour long! However when we got to the place it was so beautiful! Cedric is way awesome and I really feel like he has potential! When we met with him earlier in the week he brought his Book of Mormon to meet with us and everything! He doesn't really have a religious background, so he asks some great questions!

A member (Ole) taught Søster Bender and I how to play chess and boy is chess hard!! He always asks us now if we want to play chess with him haha

We try to meet with Arnt and Bianca once a week and sadly this is the last week we will meet with them before they leave for summer vacation for 3 weeks.... lame! We gave them a Preach My Gospel book last time and Bianca loves it! She is highlighting and taking notes and carries it around with her!! They are so solid and have the strongest testimonies! She goes this book is awesome and explains things so clearly and simply!

We met with Brenda this week and went to her house! She had made us American pumpkin pie and had watermelon! That was a wonderful surprise! She downloaded the Book of Mormon on her phone in audio so she can listen to it! She never stops surprising Søster Bender and I.

Remember Selvano? Well we met with another one of his friends he introduced us too and he seems pretty positive! His name is Lino and is way cool! He is from Peru! He asked a lot of questions about things we can and cannot do and let’s just say we got the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom knocked out in that lesson as well. He really loved when we talked to him about Christ coming to the Americas and when we showed him a picture he got all excited and goes hey that looks like Mexico!!

We met with AJ a less active and he loves to get ice cream or milkshakes with us and he brought some of his friends! We were able to talk about missionary work with them and it was a good time! Norwegian ice cream is to die for!

Contacting on the street this week was rough....... There are some days where you feel like you are rocking at Norwegian and then there are others where you can't even say hello...... This week Søster Bender and I both had one of those we can't even say hello moments.....Mine was awful!! Like I was so embarrassed because of how bad it was!! Søster Bender and I saw this girl on the street and I was feeling really good about talking to her, so we walk up and I literally couldn't speak Norwegian and when I did manage to get something out it didn't even make sense and the girl was pretty sure trying not to laugh at me..... Søster Bender and I walk around the corner and just die laughing! I was so ashamed of myself hahaha I didn't even have a contact that bad when I was a greenie!! You win some you lose some am I right? With Søster Bender we stopped this kinda older lady and Søster Bender began to talk to her and Søster Bender asked her a question and the lady in Norwegian goes that was not Norwegian what you just said. Søster Bender said the same thing again and yes she did say it in Norwegian and the lady just stared at her... hahahah so I ask the question to the lady and she responds and starts talking to me. Søster Bender was not happy about that hahaha but I thought it was pretty funny

***Søster Bender and I are going to be singing in church next week!!

Jordan's Tidbits:

- Norwegians don't say *work out* they say *Train*

- The People that live below us literally are stinking up the stairway! Søster Bender and I have to plug our noses every time we leave or come in! They keep all of their shoes in the stairwell and it is awful!

- I was vacuuming and accidentally vacuumed up Søster Bender's sock hahahah I was so shocked and was like oh my gosh! And she goes what!? I go ummm I may have sucked up your sock.... hahaha we were both dying laughing and took the vacuum apart to find her sock

- Norwegians love to snack and walk around eating a banana

- It's crazy how Søster Bender and I have only known each other for 9 weeks and it feels like we have been serving together and friends for like years! We are pretty comfortable around each other hahaha

- Norwegians seriously have the best style

- A perk about traveling and flying and having your seat next to your companion is that you get to take a nap!

- Søster Bender loves to go up to people when we are on the street and say: jeg vet at gud elser deg hva sinnes du om det? She gets some not very nice faces or remarks but it is so awesome that she just does it anyways!

Åndelig Tanker:

I love Alma Chapter 26 especially verses 12 and 16: *Behold who can glory too much in the Lord?* *... I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak, therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things...* I feel like many times in life, people including myself do not give God enough praise, credit, or thanks especially when good things no matter how small they are happen. Especially as a missionary our success isn't us, but it is because of God.

***There is an awesome film about the prophet called *On the Lord's Errand* I would highly recommend it! It talks all about his life leading up to being the prophet and his life as the prophet it is so awesome!!

Ha en fin uke!! Jeg er så glad og takknemlig for dere!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson

10 måneder allerede!? (10 months already)

DENNE BOK ER GOD MÅ DU LESE, VÆR SÅ GODT!

(Our New convert Bianca talking about the Book of Mormon)

I cannot believe I hit my 10 month mark!! That is insane!! Time is flying by!! 8 months left.... not enough time!! I feel like I have so much to do before I go home!

You will read the details later in my letter, but we met with Brenda and her kids and husband at 6:30 AM and went running!!! Than after Brenda and her kids did personal and companionship study with Søster Bender and I in the Church, we gave one of her sons the Book of Mormon Picture book and he was just eating that up!! He loved it!!! It was so interesting to me that they wanted to do that with us! Brenda is planting seeds for her family and doesn’t' even realize the impact she is going to have on them(:

Even though Norway doesn't celebrate 4th of July, Søster Bender and I still dressed up!! We even found an American flag!! Lill one of the ladies we visit threw a little get together with the Crabtree’s, Linda, and some other people and we celebrated Lill's birthday, 4th of July, and father's day haha. I don't think Lill wanted all the attention on her. She even had Søster Bender, Elder Crabtree, and I sing the Star Spangled Banner in front of everyone! That was interesting, but we actually didn't sound too bad!! When it came to the high part we all started laughing and kinda skipped over it.

Søster Bender and I always see one of our former investigators on the street, Selvano. He always introduces us to his friends and tells them they need to meet with us, etc.. It is so funny! We decided to meet with him and guess what... HE BROUGHT A FRIEND WITH HIM!! Søster Bender and I were so excited!! This was the first time I have ever seen Selvano focused, etc... It was awesome! Throughout the whole lesson Selvano would be like *He needs one of your books, and tell him about this and this* It was great!! His friend is from Guatemala and turns out he has a temple right by his house and he would walk by it every day and never really knew what it was! Tusen takk Selvano for the help!!

Walking home one night Søster Bender and I saw one of Selvano's friends he had introduced us to and we stopped and talked to him and next thing you know we have an appointment to meet!

Ramy and Jackson came to Church!! OH IT WAS A HAPPY DAY!!! I was so so excited!! It was fast Sunday so that was awesome and I just love being able to bear my testimony!! It's funny because before the mission I was completely terrified to bear my testimony especially in front of people, but now if you really think about it, you are just sharing something that you love and know to be true, so there is no need to be embarrassed!(:

Jackson

For the second week in a row we had 4 priesthood members do the sacrament who were all part of the Tromsø Branch and no missionaries (we have no elders at the moment) or Elder Crabtree had to help! One member Zardasht just moved close to town, so he can come to church now, and another is visiting till December!! Miracles are happening!!

We visited the Reynolds (the American Family) We talked to them about Joseph Smith and the Apostasy and played a game called Apostasy Jacks! (Putting those Jacks you sent to good use mom) It was way cool, their kids loved it! They are the cutest family and their kids are so smart and very knowledgeable about the gospel and they are all under the age of 10! It is insane!! They know things I don't even know!! haha

Side note: they are moving back to America in December!! That is going to be way sad and the branch is really going to miss them! They make up basically half of the branch

We visited a lady named Mami! She is way cool and Søster House and Bender contacted her on the street before I got here. We haven't been able to meet with her, but she finally let us come over! We talked about the Restoration and Book of Mormon and that was probably the best lesson Søster Bender and I have taught together! It was awesome!! We bounced right off of one another and backed up each other's testimony. It was so cool! Mami said she would read a little bit at a time and we can come back next week! Even though practicaling in the morning isn't one of our favorite things to do (or really any missionary's favorite thing to do), it does pays off over time!

The other day I was talking on the phone with Søster Johannessen and Boud and they were with Casper!! So they video called me on our super ghetto phones which amazes me it can video call and I got to see him!!! BEST DAY EVER!!! He was also wearing the Texas t-shirt I gave him! I miss that guy!! He is just the best and still going strong as ever!(: He just went to the temple and that makes my heart so happy! Missionary work is worth it everyone!

There is a new bus driver that Søster Bender and I love!! He is just the happiest, smiliest guy and blares the music on the bus which is not normal here (he plays American Music too!).... We always wave to him and talk to him.

Jordan's Tidbits:

- It is July and I am still wearing a scarf.... while all the missionaries below the Arctic Circle in the South (Stavanger, Bergen, Oslo, etc...) are sweating bullets.....

- Norwegians do not have air conditioning or dryers for their clothes

- 10 kr muffins are the best thing ever!!! Sister Bender and I get some like every day hahah

- This morning (Monday) I woke up to Sister Bender turning on the lights...This was strange because usually I wake her up because she can never hear the alarm even though it is right by her head..... I looked at my phone to see what time it was and it was 1:00 in the morning! I looked at her and said,  *What are you doing!? She goes *It's time to Wake up! and I go *No it's not, it is 1 in the morning! and she goes *Oh.... and turns off the light and gets back into bed. hahahah then when we wake up she goes *did I wake up in the middle of the night? It is never a dull moment with Sister Bender!! I love this girl!!(:

- I love going running when the sun is up!! Søster Bender and I run down by the water and it is so pretty! We have been pretty good at running every day!

Excerpts from Søster Bender's email:

We didn't really make our own fireworks because in the MTC I heard a story of these missionaries who made their own bomb and lit it off outside and the police were sent to their apartment. The police went in their apartment and saw things such as the area map with pin-points and strings to people’s houses and different neighborhoods, the area book, pictures of all the members and what not--perfect for if you are trying to look like someone planning to blow these places up!

Unfortunately, these missionaries spent the night in jail and were sent home.

And thus we see that when we disobey the Lord's commandments we become servants to the devil, and the devil will not be there to save us in the end.

(True story. We heard it at a devo in the MTC from a general authority)

We went to Lill Kitty's (a member) house for cake for the 4th! She had a small gathering and it was really nice. She made me and Sister Peterson sing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of everyone and it was probably one of the most awkward things I have ever done because we didn't even know those people PLUS singing isn't my forte.

Something funny that happened this week.... So Brenda is this crazy loud lady who once had a lot of potential, but later had to stop meeting with us because her husband didn't like it. She has two goofy sons. We still call her and give her scriptures to read and we follow-up to see how she is doing and invite her to all the activities. Anyway, we called her the other day and asked her how she was doing and what not and somehow, by the end of the phone call, one thing leading to another and we had planned to meet her and her sons outside at 6:30 AM to do our morning exercise and then our personal and companionship studies with them!! She wanted us to show her sons how "real Christians" live hahah. We go outside (6:30 IN THE MORNING) to meet them and her husband was there too!! We ran with them and it was really weird and interesting then went to the church and did personal and companionship study with them which was even more weird and interesting, but it was really fun and I think her sons enjoyed it a lot because they said they want to do it again! I just read that and it doesn't sound that weird or funny, but I promise it would be hilarious if you had ever met this family. Moral of the story, life is a little bit easier when we have good examples to follow.

Åndelig Tanker:

Marriage and Chastity:

 “[Recently] the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve published a letter to leaders of the Church across the world. In part it read: ‘Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife.’

“As the world slips away from the Lord’s law of chastity, we do not. …

“While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not. In the very beginning, God initiated marriage between a man and a woman—Adam and Eve. He designated the purposes of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults to, more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured. Families are the treasure of heaven.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,

Article link:

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/07/april-2014-conference-notebook?lang=eng

Quotes of the week: I have lots this week!

- Søster Bender: oh my gosh I think I have a wart!! Just kidding it is icing from my boller

- "Faith requires action. We must act in faith first, and then comes power, which leads to more faith, and then we gain more power."

- "Don't use the word 'weaknesses'. Instead, replace it with 'opportunities'. (From our New mission President Tracy Hill)

- "It had become critically important to establish this intention between me and the Lord so that I knew that He knew which way I had committed my agency. I went before Him and said, ‘I’m not neutral, and you can do with me what you want. If you need my vote, it’s there. I don’t care what you do with me and you don’t have to take anything from me because I give it to you—everything, all I own, all I am.’” Boyd K Packer

- I encourage you all to continue to endure and push forward on your paths upwards - upwards toward joy, glory, laud and honour.  Never give up!  This is so worth it and you have all the help, love and support you need.  Remember... PLEASE remember, that His love ''beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, [and] endureth all things.'' (Moroni 7:45) from Elder Benjamin Hunter

- "When adversity comes, don't let something you don't fully understand unravel everything you do know." - Elder Kevin Pearson

I really liked that thought, since we all let fear and doubt creep in during our weak moments.  Be strong, and rely on the strength of what you know to pull you through those times of uncertainty. - Aunt Kelsey

Glad I dere!!! Jeg håper at dere ha en fin uke!!! Get a tan, read the scriptures, do something Nice for someone, og alltid husker at KIRKEN ER SANT!!!

xoxo

Søster Peterson