HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY SIERRA!

Kjære Familie,
Bursdagen min er IMORGEN!!! :) Det er så rart at det er allerede her!
My birthday is tomorrow!!! :) It is so weird that it is already here! Time has gone by so fast!!! Anyways, later today we are going to Oslo with a bunch of other missionaries to go to some museums. A viking ship museum, and some more! Super exciting! :) So thats why I am writing today :) SO MUCH has happened at home since last week! so EXCITING!!! :) Congrats to Bry and Az and EVERYTHING ELSE!!! :)
So last Monday we were just running around running errands. Nothing very fun. We taught one of our investigators Mary and showed her the Restoration Film :)


I got Moms book, so instead of writing in my journal this week, I read that...so Im sorry if this isnt that good!!! And I forgot my planner (i needed a new one) so I am looking at my companions planner, which is different than mine. But I will try to remember what we did :)
Anyways on Tuesday we didnt have District Meeting. We tried finding some people that had told us to come back, but that didnt work. We had dinner with familien Moen, so koselig! We had lasagna (what all norwegians make when they dont have much time :) ) That was super super good!! And we had ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce :) Janet Moen reminds me of the Call side of the family! Always laughing and her smile is the same smile we all have! haha! That night we taught Dennis about Tithing and Fast Offering :) That went well, but we had to RUN out to catch the bus. We literally ran out of their house and to the bus stop, because we had to catch the bus to catch another bus to get home! So we ran to the bus stop, and found out it came 10 minutes later. at 8:50. We had to catch a bus at 9:05 to get home. The place to catch the bus was about 10 minutes away, but the area to catch the bus was blocked off because of the SKI SPRINT that is shown all over norway! Its a competition that is held in DRAMMEN SENTRUM! :) Super exciting!!! Anyways, we caught the bus, after saying a prayer, but that bus came 3 or so minutes late. I have heard miracle stories of the Lord delaying things, or whatever, and thought to myself, okay. The Lord is going to do something like that. He can! The bus is going to be delayed and stop right in front of us. NOT WHAT HAPPENED. Haha. THis was the SLOWEST bus ride of my life. Every stop someone had to get on or off. So we had 3 minutes intil the bus came. We got off and jsut started RUNNING. We ran through the sentrum, not knowing where a bus stop was. After running and running, we saw the bus coming. The only bus that comes ONCE AN HOUR. I told sister Trydal and we tried running a little bit more, but gave up. The bus passed us and turned the corner, and I thought, we might as welll try. So we SPRINTED. I have never ran so fast in my life. With a skirt, and a backpack (looked like such nerds) we ran! WE CAUGHT THE BUS!!!! There were so many people at that bus stop that it was stopped enought time for us to get on! :) So we got on, and breathed hard the entire way home! I made eye contact with Sister Trydal and just made the biggest smile I could! haha!!! People probably thought we were such weirdos haha Anyways, my lungs have never burned so much. Seriously, we ran, really fast, for a long time! We were coughing the rest of the night haha! When we got off the bus I just started laughing! And we had so much adrenaline, walking up the hill home wasnt even so hard! Oh it was a MIRACLE. I learned a lot from it though. I learned that the Lord DOES answer prayers. He DOES give us miracles. But not always how we think. We need to show HIm we are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get that miracle. And He will give it to us. We need to work, not just make Him do it all. Oh it was a highlight of the week :)
On Wednesday we had weekly planning and then went to Møyfrids house! The lady I tlaked about last week. We tuaght her and her children. Her daughter is learnign about religion in school, so she thought it would be good. It was a little awkward though. Møfrid kept talking about different things, but finally it was focused haha :) The son was the most receptive. He came in and stood there as we talked and he took a Book Of Mormon! So that night we got 3 new investigators!!! Afterwards we had Ward Council, oh do I just LOVE this ward! The Bishop reminds me of Trevor, such a tender mercy! That night the Sister Training Leaders came! (Sister Clark is one of them!!!) Sister McArthur called me that night and let me know that a man that we used to teach passed away in Kristiansand. He was sick, so it wasnt too big of a shock, but it is just so sad. We were able to teach him and his wife the Plan of Salvation, so I hope that he (AND SHE!) remembers that :)


On Thursday I spent most of the day with Sister Clark. I was able to just talk to her. She saved the last time she goes as Sister Training Leader, to come to me here in Drammen!!! She goes home on the 20th!!! Anyways, we taught a referral from Dennis, that went well :) And then we taught Melissa! We had a primary age girl with us to help, and that was sweet :) We had dinner, and then Sister Burns and I went and contacted and talked. It was a good day to be with other Sisters too! Its always fun to be with other missionaries :) I am going to miss Sister Clark so much! She slid a note into my backpack and a chocolate bar into my pocket :) Shes helped me so much on my mission and I am so thankful for her.
On Friday we went to a members house for lunch! We had the sandwiches in Norway, just one piece of bread and you pile things on it and eat it with a fork and knife :) So DEILIG!
Oh! Before I forget, my feet are dying. We walk so fast and so much. But I realized, I walk weird. I thought I should be wlaking faster than most of my companions (my legs are so long) but I am slower or just as fast as them. And it is because I dont bend my toes as much when I walk. I keep my foot flat (mostly) and then I use my legs and the other parts of my foot to help me walk! My foot is swollen, not good! Anyways, SO MUCH walking = MORE CHOCOLATE! So thats okay with me ;) Anyways, it was koselig meeting with Mona, then we later that day taught Dennis about the baptismal questions! We had a member with us from Stavanger, adn that was super good! :) We tuaght John that night and tried settling his problem with the Word of Wisdom. I had been reading moms book, so that miracle was in my head. I was able to share that with him. It is so amazing how Mom is affecting people here in Norway. Really I share things about my family ALL of the TIME so everyone in the family is affecting people here in Norway if they know it or not. We are influencing and changing the world with tht ehtings that go on in our lives or the tirals that happen. How cool! :)


On Saturday we had Sport where we played dodgeball again! Then we went and taught a little lesson to a muslim lady. Afterwards, we got kebabed, and I got a blessing from the elders. I have gotten numerous blessings on my mission, and I am SO thankful for the Priesthood. That monring I felt prompted to read my Patriarchal Blessing. Actually the night before I planned that, feelign prompted to write it down. Anyways, in the blessing I was told that I need to focus on missionary work and the future will work out. That the thing that will give me MOST comfort is my Patriarchal Blessing...so read it often! I was told to continue to pray always, Heavenly Father can help with ANYTHING. It amazes me how the Lord can speak to us through worthy men with the Priesthood. I am so thankful. My Patriarchal Blessing has given me comfort later this week also, AMAZING how the blessing I got influenced the future. Oh I love it!!! That night we had our teach fall through, so we had time to find! We felt off, everywehre we went. We found some people, but just felt off! So we went o catch the bus home, and there was a lady standing by the wall. SIster Trydal wanted to talk to her, so we went over and started talking. She wasnt interested, but we tried giving her a card. She accepted it. But I felt before I gave her the card that it should be the MB in my hand (that I had felt prompted to take out of Sister Trydals backpack earlier in the evening) that we gave to her. But afterwards, we just said we would love to give the book to her too. She asked if it costed money, and of course it doesnt! So we gave it to her and she told us how she likes to read! Then she left. The Lord is SO AWARE!!!! On the bus home I sat next to a man from Africa. He had given his number to missionaries in Oslo, but I had an english MB and was able to give that to him too! It was amazing how it worked!!! OH SO EXCITING!!! :)
Then it was Sunday! I love church more than I ever have before. I love praising the Lord not just in listening to member speak, but in singing too and it taking the Sacrament. I miss singing more often, my companion doesnt relaly like singing, so every Sunday I LOVE singing!!! It is so powerful. Such a powerful way to express our love to the Lord. Mary and Dennis were in church! :) Then afterwards we met with a member named Karoline. She has a hard life. A convert, but her step dad didnt let her come to church often. And she lives an hour away. Her best friend is on a mission too! So we got to know her and shared something with her. Shes a really Sweet girl!! Then we had studies, dinner, and then had a "Kick Off" with the youth. They called members to get appointmets with them and we played games, etc. So fun! I LOVE THE YOUTH!!! It was a great way to get to know them more :)


Then on Monday we tried delivering some dessert to a less-active and non member. We taught Dennis more about baptism and confirmation (covenant) and keeping the law of the land! Then we taught Mary about the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It was a good day :) OH! And since last friday or saturday, the SUN HAS BEEN OUT!!! BLUE SKIES!!!! I have never loved it so much! haha! I dont usually loooove the sun. But I havent REALLY seen the sun in a couple of months (kind of on Serges Baptism day), so this is exciting!!! Im wearing my fall coat now! :) Also, I talked to Presdient yesterday and he let me know that he has contact with Serges Bishop or missoin presdient in Italy adn they are in contact with him :) SO GOOD! ANyways, I dont have much time now, BUT I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have an AMAZING WEEEK!!!!! :) Ill be thinking of you on my birthday!!! :)
LOVE, Søster Chapman :)

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Kjære Familie,
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! :) I hope it has been a good day! Well, I hope it will be a good day when you all wake up :)
Anyways, this week has been pretty slow...tough...yeah, slow! It was Vinter ferie, winter vacation. (They have SO many vacations here in Norway haha) Anyways, last Monday we went to an AMAZING church.


It is about 2...ish hours away and is made only of wood. I will send some pictures, I took a lot :) Monday night as we were walking on a street, we stopped a lady, and started talking to her. SO funny and interesting how the Lord works! We started talking to her and she said that we had called her daughter the week before. (we had been going through the formers in the area book)! It was awkward because she asked if we had a list of something with there number. And I just said that we were just going through old numbers we had. (Not saying the part about how we have a record of everything that was said in the lessons, where they live, what they believe in, etc. etc.) hahaha that makes us sound so creepy! Anyways, she told us we could come and visit! It was so interseting because she was a lady that I didnt get ahold of while calling, but wrote her name down for us to go and knock on her door, but instead, the Lord really wanted us to meet her as soon as possible!!! SO cool!


That night Sister Evans called and congratulated us on how the week before had gone. Our District got 6 or 7 baptismal dates last week!!! She said somethings to me that were really sweet too, that I needed to hear...it was like having Mom call, so that was a tender mercy :)
On Tuesday we had District Meeting! Later, Sister Trydal and I went and knocked on some doors. ONe of the houses we knocked on was a duplex, i think thats what it is called...like our Sitka house, but it was green and was really harry potter like. One lady answered the door and told us she would like to know that we could live again after this life, but wasnt intersted for us to tell her about it. AHHH it is SO SAD!!!! After banking for a little while, we were walking up to an old ladies house in the ward, and an old man saw me yawn and asked if we were tired, and it led to a discussion about the church (ALWAYS FINDING! ;) ) haha, no but he asked us about who we were and stuff :) Anyways, he wasnt really intersted to learn, just curious.





But we went into the appartment complex and ate dinner with this sweet sweet old lady named Ine. It was like walking into a room on the Titanic, old glass lights, and old pictures, with fancy things all over. It was so fun :) She made us soup (which reminded me of your soup mom, SO GOOD!) and Norwegian pancakes :) So good!!! Then we taught Melissa, the 9 year old investigator, and then taught Dennis :) We taught him with 2 members and that went well!
On Wednesday I got to call Serge!!!! It was such a tender mercy and it made me so happy :) He got the Priesthood a week ago!!! But he is moving back to Italy. Well, he did a couple of days ago now. He told me he is going to have to take a boat to church, but everything will work out :) And Sister Robbins told me he has practiced how he is going to tell his family about the church, how he was baptized and all! It is so obvious that he has the gift of the Holy Ghost now! I just love him! He asked if I wanted him to write something on a piece of wood for me, like he is doing for the other sisters and I said yeah! So that will be cool :) He said, that he misses me and its not the same there, and that just made me so happy. It was like talking to my best friend ont he phone :) OHH I JUST LOVE HIM! We knocked on doors a lot ofthis day and to tell you the truth, I cant really remember where or what happened, because we knocked SO much this week! Anyways, we tuaght Dennis again that night and we watched the Restoration film with him. That was good :) Then we taught John afterwards, and taughta bout the Word of Wisdom. He has some problems with seeing how it is important, but that comes with a testimony of Joseph Smith and the church, so that will come if he acts on getting a stronger testimony :)


On Thursday Sister Trydal wanted to run. I have ran a little bit with her, but I honestly couldnt on that day. My shoulder and body were jsut so sore!!! My shoulder was hurting again, even though I have a backpack. :/ Ive been trying not to carry to much though, so that is good :) Anyways, we had Weekly Planning! Later, we took a bus to go and visit Møyfrid, the lady that I had called, and then we found her earlier this week. On the bus, which is one we wouldnt usually take, but would get us close to wehre we needed to go, I sat next to a norwegian girl. I used to be a lot better at bus contacting, but not so mcuh now :/ So I am working on it! But I talked to this girl and it was so natural. The problem is Satan trying to scare me before I talk. But once I talk it is totally good! Like promised int he scriptures! Anyways, I gave her a card, but didnt get her number...she got off the bus. But it was still a highlight of that day! :)





We went to Møyfrids house, but she had a migraine, so we had to schedule another day to come. Then, we taught Dennis AGAIN! haha! We taught him at a members house about the ten commandments, the Law of Chastity, and Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. It helps so much to have members on our lessons, so that went well :) And he committed to live them!
Then it was friday! We had pancakes for breakfast (sister trydal is great!) Then we checked me into the city (which we should have done a week or so ago! haha But we took a bus to the church and then went and knocked on doors, well went back to houses that told us to come back first! On the bus there, well, I wasnt too excited to knock on doors. I remembered earlier that week or the week before when I had been just grouchy. Not happy knocking on doors and the time went slowly and the success was not super great and the Spirit couldnt really guide us. So I prayed to Heavenly Father and told him how I felt and how I knew it was His time, so to use it how He wanted it to be used. and that I would do whatever was His will. And guess what? I was happy like, the whole time! The time went fast and people told us to come back! :) After a little while we read some quotes i have written on my planner to pump Sister Trydal up a little, and then we prayed to know where to go to find someone. And during the prayer, someone came into my midn that I had kind of forgotten about. A muslim family that the father todl us to come back! So we did and the lady told us we could come back next week! SO COOL! :)


We had 3 appointmetns planned for that day, but they all fell through. haha, Soooo we found the whole day! I GOT THE BIRTHDAY PACKAGE SLIP!!! AND so we are going to get that today!!! :) Anyways, after dinner we called some people and then went and knocked on some more doors!!! it was probably the funnest we have had banking here! Sister Trydal helped me with some Norwegian songs and we just talked while knocking. It was really intersting though. There was one house that we were thinking about going up to knock on. But we were a little unsure and I didnt feel great about it. But we went up to a another one and then we were really close to the other, so we started walking towards it. At the same time, Sister Trydal and I both felt BAD about about house. Unsafe/just not a good feeling, so we left and ran down. The Holy Ghost was there with us! I am so thankful for that! But the last house we were about to bank on, we said a prayer that we would be able to go in. We knocked on the door and a norwegian man opened it. He was so nice and told us that he had visitors, but kind of mentioned how we could come back, and so we asked if we could and he said yes!!! he was so positve and it was amazing!!! Becuase thorugh the night we had turned different ways through the neighborhood, but ended up at his house. And the same thing happened with Møfrid earlier that week, being led by the Spirit to her. But it wasnt like the Spirit said, "okay, turn right. Turn left. STOP! now run for 3 minutes!" Like Elder Bednar has said that if we are good boys and girls the Spirit will lead us. That was a cool experience :)





Saturday was fun! We had Sport where we played dodge ball! haha, but instead of with a bunch of balls its it two and everyone against eachother. SO FUN! It is getting started here again, so not many members cmae, but we think it will get bigger :) We had 2 appointmetns fall through for different reasons, but guess waht we did??? WE KNOCKED ON DOORS! :) haha and we called people and had a meeting with elders about the ward! But when we knocked on doors, we found a few people that told us to come back. One old lady asked if we wanted money, thinking we were beggars, I thought it was funny :) hahaha and another door we knocked on was a lady visiting her sister that I had talked to on the bus! Ive never had that happen before! But she said she would call us if she is intersted. I gave her a card on the bus, so hopefully she calls at some point :) There was also a man that we talked to that wasnt intersted, but doesnt believe in anything after this life. I just kept talking to him, because I WANTED HIM TO KNOW!!! Haha, he didnt want us to come it, but I hope he is able to think about what we tlaked about and accept that. If you could know there was life after this life, WITH OUR FAMILIES, wouldnt you want it? I WOULD! ANyways, it just makes me sad, especially becuase his sons were there and might have heard him say that he doesnt believe in anything after this life, but just doesnt think about it. :/ so sad. But it was good being able to bear my testimony!


Then on Sunday we went to chruch and had Ward Missionary Meeting! Dennis had cancelled earlier that morning, John never came, and Debby cancelled during R.S. So sad. But in relief society it was probably my favorite lesson I have had on my mission! It was about trials, and making "lemonade out of lemon juice." I was asked to translate for a senior missionary, and I was NOT good at it! haha! It cant formulate the sentences and think of the english words fast enough! And then when a bunch of people are making comments, oh it was hard. But thats ok :) One quote that I just loved and has impacted me a lot is this, I sent it to Dad too, but here it is,
"It is your reaction to adversity, NOT the adversity itself, that determines how your lifes story will develop." - President Uchtdorf
I LOVE that! Then we had Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting :) SO goooood! Afterwards we ate dinner at a members house, the husband is our MMK and the wife is from America! Then we had a teach with Dennis, and taught something we had planned right before (ddnt have time to plan that morning) and it was exactly what he needed! The Book Of Mormon and Jesus Christ. (3 Nephi 11) and it was so cool how it was what he needed :) Then we walked home and knocked on some doors, again led by the Spirit to houses that we wouldnt have knocked on if we wouldnt have gone a specific way! So cool!!! :) It was so funnny in church yesterday becasue we were all SO sore from Dodge ball. My whole body was just hurting, and is a little better today hahaha :) ANyways, thats my week!!!


I hope you all have an amazing week! JEG ELSKER DERE!!! :)
Ha en trygg og gøy uke!
Love, Søster Chapman :)


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Ups & Downs

Kjære Familie,
This week has been full of UPS and DOWNS. But it started out great!
This week actually included a man opening the door just in his underwear, I had a panic attack but Sister Trydal told me it is normal in Norway especially in the Summer. haha! And this week included an old lady getting the bus door shut on her over and over again. hahaha! So here I go!
On Monday after P-day (sending emails!) we went and taught one of our investigators - Melissa! She is 9 years old and is in a part-member family. The mom is a member (Norsk) and the dad isnt (from England). Anyways, we taught The Gospel of Jesus Christ to her. We we got to talking about baptism (she has a date for the 12th of April) she said something like, "I know lots aobut baptism because I am getting baptized in April!" (in norwegian of course). Haha! It was SO cute! She has a little lisp when she speaks to, so adorable.


Tuesday was a BIG busy day! The beginning of the day was not so great. I just want too happy, I was homesick, etc. Anyways, we went to an investigators house, Rowena. She is from the Philippines an si an au pair for a Norsk family. We taught the third lesson and it went well! She told us how lots of churches want her to join or go to theirs, but only when the sisters had come before, had she felt the goosebumps :) Oh it was such a tender mercy to teach her! Because I really miss Bry and teacher her just...I dont know! I felt closer to Bry, so that helped my day get better :) A little bit later in the day we taught a girl we found walking on a bridge, named Maria. She is from Ukraine! And so we had a recent convert from Ukraine help us! (she has a way cool story too, but I can tell you all that later :) ) Anyways, Maria was so intersted to hear about a living prophet so that was cool! And we will be meeting with her again this week :) Afterwards we went to another potentials house - Mary. She was found by Sister Landry on a bus! She is from Africa and is so sweet :) Anyways, we taught her the first lesson and committed her to a soft dåp and she said yes! It is so interesting and sad sometimes to hear how people percieve God to be. She said something like "He is kind of scary because He is going to judge us." But then it is so great to explain who He REALLY is! Our loving Heavenly Father that will judge us, yes. But wants each of us to come back to Him SO bad. Anyways, later that night we taught Dennis with a member. We committed him to baptism on March 15th and he said YES! :) SO exciting!!! We have only been teaching him since the second day I got to Drammen! SÅ FLOTT! Then we taught Debby with a member. We watched the Restoration which is always good :) BIG DAY!
On Wednesday we had District Meeting. Lots fell through so we did some finding. It was rainy and slushy outside and my feet got completely soaked. Where I could feel water inbetween my toes. It got so bad that my feet hurt to walk on! They actually started turning blue..haha but it was okay! That night we put our shoes on our heated bathroom floor and they are dry now :) haha
But we taught John that night with a member. We talked about a living prophet and showed him "Obedience Brings Blessings" by President Monson. He LOVED it! And he is also getting baptized in March! SUPER EXCITING!!!
On Thursday we did Weekly Planning :) Then we went to dinner at a members house, the Weggersunds. They have TWELVE kids!!! 6 or so still live at home and I think 2 are on missions :) Debby aslo came, so that was koselig! The mom is from Stavanger and it amazes me that sometimes it is easier for me to understand that dialect than the dialect here! haha! Anwyays, that was great :) That night we taught mary again. We taught the Plan and committed her to be baptized on March 29th and she said YES! :) One thing I didnt mention about this week - our zone focused on each companionship hitting 3 - 2 - 1. Which is our mission standard. 3 new investigators, 2 in church, 1 baptismal date. And we got 2 baptismal dates!!! As a total we got 7 or 8 new baptismal dates in our zone this week!!! SO EXCITING! :)


Friday was a bit hard of a day too. This week I really had to rely on the Lord. I kind of made it a theme of this week and it amazes me how aware the Lord is of each of us! He knows how much we can handle, and how he can comfort us. We went and tried to find the whole day, went up to a really pretty neighborhood and knocked on doors for a while. It is so important as a missionary to have the "nothing you do is a waste of time" attitude. Because that could have eastily been put into the category of being a waste of time, because we taught no one and didnt get any numbers. But I had an amazing trainor and have had so many experiences on my mission to know that there really is NO waste of time. I am SO thankful for how I was trained and who have been my companions. Oh man I am just so thankful. Anyways, that night we taught Dennis with the Bishop and his wife! Okay, so guess how old the bishop is? TWENTY NINE! Haha and his wife is 28! But if there was such thing as a Norwegian Trevor, this would be him. Well maybe not completely haha but it was another tender mercy to see the bishop. I will talk more about that later. Anyways, With Dennis we taught the word of wisdom. He told us how he stopped drinking and stuff a while ago because he didnt like how he felt. But that he drinks tea. But he was SO willing to just give it up :) The Bishop expressed how the ward is going to take care of him and help him, and that was sooo great. I dont think I realized how important member missionary work was before my mission, but it is SO important!!!!! Have you all been able to help the missionaries where you are? Anyways, Dennis committed to follow the word of wisdom! :) After Dennis, we taught John at the church. A member named Margrete came and helped. She is from Trondheim and it is soo soo sooo weird, but sometimes it is easier for me to understand her, than people here in Drammen. Oh so weird! Anyways, we taught John about Tithing and Fasting and that went okay :)


Saturday, we found most of the day. All of the day actually haha. Our 2 appointments fell through so we knocked on doors and called people! We did have some people tell us that we could come back, so that was good!!! :) And a man took a Book Of Mormon :) Bringing up the bishop again, we were at the church and they were having some dance practice thing, for I dont know what, but the bishop came to the door to see if his wife was there and walked past me in his sweatpants and hat and just said, "Hei Søster Chapman!" haha it just reminded me so much of Trevor! So fun to have a bishop so young :) Later that night we got dropped by Rowena. Well more of a break. :( So we decdied that we would pray to know what house to knock on. We had some colors of houses pop into our heads, and we went on a search! We didnt teach anyone, but a couple of people had conversations about the gospel with us and were able to give a pamphlet away! It was good :)
Then yesterday was Sunday! We went to church and had 2 investigators there! John and Dennis. We were expecting about 5, but hopefully next week :) Sacrament Meeting was so good. I actually got a little homesick, knowing you all would be there together to hear Brys homecoming talk, but TENDER MERCY! The Bishop spoke and talked about families. It was bitter sweet. Oh I miss you all so bad. Anyways, after church we went to a members house to eat dinner. An old couple :) The old man has some problems and is really old, so it was so funny how much he just adored me. My last name, showing me his cat. At one point, HAHAH! Az will love this! I actually thought of her when it happened. I was writing in a notebook they have all of the missionaries write in and all of a sudden he is right next to me and starts playing his harmonica. Just standing there, in a way showing me how cool it is! Haha and when we were in the car on the way to their house, I dont know, I think we started talking about the sun coming out and he just started singing some old song and didnt stop! hahahaha! It was a lot more funny to have been there. During dinner, the Kongsberg elders were there too, well we had peas, carrots, meat, and potatoes :) And then ice cream and brownies! Anyways, during dinner Roger said that his favorite book was the Book Of Mormon, so Elder Hinton lifted his hand up to give him a high-five, his hand was right next to his face, so he easily saw it, and Roger jsut looked at him. And so Elder HInton felt SO uncomfortable and I just started dieing. Hahaha! I was turning red I was laughing so hard!!! HAHA! Oh it was hilarious. He tried giving me a hug afterwards, but we shook his hand hahaha :) Then we studied language at the church before they had an open house! The theme was Family Home Evening. So a family did a family home evening, which was really good, and then we had an activity in another room (the sentence, then draw a picture, then write a sentence game). Then we had dessert! It was SO koselig! I talked to the Stake Presidents wife, who I found out is related the Steffensen family in Stavanger!! (Mina, on her mission in London, is her niece!) It made me so happy :) And so cool how easy it is for me to understnd that dialect now! (compared to when I first got to Norway hahaha) And some other couple I met told us about their trip to Svalbard! (up up up north!) How they werent allowed to go out and walk around the town unless they had a guide, because bears just roam the city! How cool!!! Last night was definitely one of my favorite nights of the week! It was so koselig and Sister Trydal and I had a fun time walking home from the city :)
Its cool having a Norwegian companion! I am learning so much and helping her with her English. One thing that I am noticing though, how bad my english is. I can speak it fine and write it fine (i think?) but when we are translating a norwegian word to english or if I have to explain what a word means, I forget if we spend to much time on it. hahaha! But I am learning a lot from her! So thats good! :)
When I was in the MTC, Russel M. Nelson and his wife talked about angels. I think it was his wife that talked about how we can pray for angels by name, or by characteristic to be with us that day. And so I did that this week. Angels and the reality of them have been on my mind all of my mission, and that talk helped me understand them more :) Anyways, I prayed this week for different, or the same, people a lot of the days. But one day I prayed specifically for one of our ancestors to be with me. I cant remember her name, Sarah maybe? But the one that I wrote on my Trek Skirt, I am pretty sure she is the same one we saw the grave of. (I think she was left alone with her 3 or 4 children and had to trek alone?) Anyways, I prayed for her to be with me the next day before i went to bed. And in my prayer to open my studies, I prayed again for it, and I felt the sweetest feeling. It is hard to explain, but it was as if I had her personality for a second. I had no bad feelings, just this sweet, loving, feeling in me. I know that she was with me. And I know that she was so strong. Could someone send me her story or stuff about her? I have such a testimony of angels and the reality of them. I had a strong feeeling this week that the veil is so much thinner than we think. We think of it as this huge cloud in front of our faces, but it is really just a sheet thick enough for us not to remember, but thin enough for angels to literally be in our presence. Sit and think about that for a second. Its amazing!
Anyways, today we are going to go to Kongsberg to see a church with our district! I heard it looks like a Disney castle, Ill take pictures and send them next week! :)


Anyways, I love you all so much and hope you have a fantastic week!!!!!
LOVE, Søster Chapman :)






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