FROM DRAMMEN TO ....

Kjære familie,
WHAT A WEEK!!!! You will NEVER even believe how amazing this week was!
#1. DEBBY GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!
#2. IM GETTING TRANSFERRED!
I will start with #2 because #1 is going to take a little while to write about :)
So President and Sister Evans were here doing intervews, and it was my turn with President. So I went in and we were chatting. Then he looked at me and said, "Youre moving."


"And Im making you a Sister Training Leader. You are going to have a great companion...etc. etc." And then he said, "But Im not going to tell you anything else...But you are going to be a looong ways away from here." Then he did this mysterious smile to me. There are only Sister Training Leaders in Oslo area, Bergen, and Tromsø. So the whole week I was stressing/thinking about where I would be going! Yesterday he announced I was replacing the old STL who was serving in Bergen. But when they got to Bergen, they didnt say my name!
IM GOING TO TROMSØ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont know if you all know where that is...but its ALL THE WAY UP NORTH! Ive heard its the most north Sister MIssionaries in the world, the northest city in the world, etc. HOW COOL!!!!!! I am SO excited!


But I am also sooo soo sad to be leaving Drammen and Sister Frampton. We have only served together for 3ish weeks - my shortest companionship. But she is getting a great companion. :)


So that is BIG news! President told me to start packing before...so I have been...and this is the first time I am moving by plane on my mission...so I have a weight limit. I leave here tomorrow by train to Oslo, then Im taking a plane up to Tromsø! My companion is going to be one of the 2 sisters I havent met yet. Her name is Sister Rupp and she goes home in 2 months! As sister training leader we get to visit the sisters in our zone. So I get to travel to Trondheim and Ålesund (which I heard is the prettiest place in the world). So I am SO PUMPED!!!
So that is some big news! But here is the rest of the week :)


Last Monday we were able to meet with Debby. It was so stressful, well not to stressful, but we needed a lot of faith. Because Debby could NOT smoke at all in order to be baptized on Saturday. So we texted her often and visited her a LOT this past week. Monday was her first day of NO SMOKING in a long time! She excersized, drank grapefruit juice, veggies, and prayed to not smoke. She is absolutely amazing!


On Tuesday we had District Meeting, and thats hwen I had my interview with President and Sister Evans. We ate pancakes and eggs for district lunch and afterwards, we got a text message from a former. He asked if he could call us. Then said that he was in dyer need of talking to someone. So we and the Zone Leaders went and visited him. His wife had left him and taken their child to a crisis home, even though he hadnt done anything. We were able to talk about the Atonement and other things to bring him peace. I know that the medicine to a hard life is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Im so glad we could help him and the sisters here can continue to help him. We met with another person that we had met contacting, named Robel. We didnt have much time but we were able to give him a Book of Mormon and get a return appointment with him! Tuesday was a good day :)





Wednesday we met with Debby again! We taught her the last of the lessons (now, it is mandatory to teach the laws and ordinances before they are baptized) and she STILL HADNT SMOKED!!! We ate dinner with some members Sister Frampton knew from Oslo that were visiting. We ate pizza and then got something called Softis - soft serve ice cream...but with toppings on it. I got chocolate powder on one side and strawberry candy on the other. It was SO good, but HUGE! I thought it wasnt a bad price...but now thinking about it, it was around 32 kr. So about 7 dollars? hahaha We were invited to be with the YW, but we only had a little while before the Sister Training Leaders came. We were there for a few minutes in the lesson, then we went to the trainstation and picked Sister Johnson and Sister Oldham up! (both in the MTC with me) :)


On Thursday we went on splits with the STLs. I started the day with Sister Oldham and we visited a less active member from Iran. I think Ive written about her before, but she made us a Middle Eastern lunch - really good! Then we shared a thought with her and read in the Book Of Mormon. This day was SO HUMID. I cant handle humidity! It made it so much hotter than it was! After knocking on doors and meeting with Maria, we switched and I was with Sister Johnson. We stopped in on an investigator, who is also from the middle east and had a really spiritual teach. Her cousin had just passed away and she finds it hard to believe that she can see him and her mom, who has passed away, again. We hadnt planned to talk about the Plan, but sister johnson and i thought of the same scripture, and we were able to share some scriptures in Alma 40 with her. :) Then we all had a dinner with some members, we got to borrow the elders car and drive there! It was so fun and koselig for members to have us over and feed us :) Then we dropped the sisters off at the trainstation and we went and taught Debby again! The bishop had met with her the night before to go over practical things, and the ward was plannin on her baptism...so she COULD NOT SMOKE!!! It was announced on Sunday, we gave out little papers announcing it, and just walked off a cliff having the faith that there was a feather bed at the bottom, or the Lord would catch us. well, she STILL HADNT SMOKED! :) It was a great full day :)





Friday was also SO good. This was just a great week! We went and had lunch with a member named Tonje, who also invited one of her best friends that has actually gotten all of the lessons, but not right now. It was so koselig and fun to be able to be there with them :) And then we shared a thought about the Holy Ghost. It was absolutely perfect and the committment we gave them, even though it wasnt the one we planned on, was one both sister frampton and i were thinking when we were teaching. We had a typical norwegian lunch - openfaced sandwiches. yumm... and then we had a dessert that was absolutely heavenly. Its called (no idea how to spell it) Pavlova. Anyways, it was a great start to the morning :) We sat outside and did some things preparing sister frampton to know more about the ward, and then made our way to our next appointment, not to far from there. We met with the Lystad family, ate dinner, and did a FHE. (this is the family that has the au pair from Ukraine working for them...I used her computer to skype you all) I love that family :) We went to Debbys afterward and she trimmed out hair and we did nails. (she needed everything she could to get Satan away! He attacked her so much this past week!) She had told us the day before that Kjetil, her ex boyfriend was going to come and pick up some of the art he did while he was at her house, on friday. He had called her on the phone crying and begging her to not be baptized. That she had chosen God over him, blah blah blah. But when we came to her house on Friday, she told us that she had told him NO, that he couldnt come, but he could pick the stuff up after the baptism on Sunday. SHE IS SO GOOD! She knew that he would try to stop her from being baptized. She is sooo sooo sweet so she has a hard time saying no to peoples faces, so she just told him not to come. I am just so amazed with how strong she is!!! Then later that night we did a FHE with Melissa (the 10 year old recent convert) and her mom :)





Debby told us she had a hard time sleeping that night because she was SO EXCITED for her baptism!!! On Saturday we woke up and traveled to the church to get things ready. Debby was supposed to get there around 9:30, and we called her a few minutes before, she didnt answer, then she called back and just thanked us for calling because she didnt hear her alarm and she had slept in (talk about Satan getting to her right until the last minute) so she would be there at 10. It was close to ten and she wasnt there, and members were coming. So we walked up there and helped her bring her stuff to the church and walked with her :) She got into her white clothes, we took pictures, and it started! SO many members came!!! This ward is absolutely amazing. Our MMK got sick and couldnt come and lead the meeting, but we asked another in the bishopric to do it and he did it gladly :)


The opening song was "When i am baptized." I started crying as I heard little children just beliting the song. Debby was FINALLY BEING BAPTIZED!!! After almost 9 years of learning, she was going to take that step and be baptized. She had none of her family there. Her mom called before, but couldnt come, but that was sweet that she called :) (Her mom is now trying to quit smoking and her brother has asked about the church!) Anyways, Two amazing ladies spoke, and Margrethe Evensen sang a song called Greater Miracles. She was in the church choir (state church) in Trondheim..she is AMAZING I wish I would have recorded it!!! And Bishop also said some things. But when Debby was baptized it was so special.


After she came up she covered her face with her hands, I couldnt see her face immediately, but when I did, she had a huge smile on her face. (Some of the elders investigators said that they want to be baptized after they saw it!) She felt so good. She felt so happy, and we could see her just glowing. Satan continued getting at her because before and after her baptism, her eye was bugging her! It was way red afterwards, but it ended up going away. The RS gave her a huge bouquet of daisies, and she got cards from others too :) SIster Trydal and the other Asker sisters were able to come and see it too! :)





The RS presdient got the refreshments all sorted out, and they used our idea to make waffles (norwegian waffles) :) After her baptism there was a ward activity up in the woods :) OH I LOVE THIS WARD!!!!!!!!!!!! We did a "scavanger hunt type thing." But while we were up there with Debby we took our precious time. Sister Frampton had a flower crown from someon in the ward and Debby made me one too, and we just chatted and laughed, took pictures, etc.





I finally got a call fromt he elders asking if we were lost. "NO! Were not lost, were just taking our time!" haha Someone had told them that the sisters were lost and it was the elders responsibility to find us! EXCUSE ME! I know Im not an eagle scout, but I have brothers and a dad that are, so you do not need to worry about me being lost! ;) No, it was so nice of them to call and check. :) After we got back we had bbq and chatted, then we went and helped an investigator pack a little bit so that she could move in 4 days. It is a terryfying appartment complex and we did not feel good at points. But when we got into her appartment we were there for a short time, helped her, shared a thought, and left. The Lord really is so aware of us. We had an absolutely amazing day! We called Debby later and saw how she was doing. She said that she had an amazing, fantastic day! I LOVE DEBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!


On Sunday we woke up and had moves call! Then we walked to church and I had to tell everyone I was leaving. It was sooo sad, but it was so fun to hear their reactions! "Å! Tromsø! Lykke til!" or "Du er faktisk så heldig! Det er så vakkert i Tromsø om sommeren." etc. :) I got pictures and people to sign my minne bok...oh i just love this ward. Then Debby recieved the Holy Ghost in Sacrament Meeting and she felt peaceful again. :) I love her so much and I am so thankful she now has that companion to help her all of the time! Hard times dont go away after one is baptized and recieves the Holy Ghost, but with the Holy Ghost, everytihng can feel easier. The ward was so nice to me, saying goodbye, taking pictures with the YW, etc.


Some YW tried adding me on instagram and probably will try facebook soon, so if you get anything then you can accept them. Has anyone from Norway added me? Haha, I had someone in Ksand tell me that they looked us up on the internet and found the video of Andrea and Az and I doing the music video to Taylor Swift! haha! How embarassing!


Anyways, after church we ate with the Stake Presidents family (he wasnt there, but his family was!) And then met with Dennis that night. I love Dennis too! He gave me some African snacks to bring with me to Tromsø.


AND he told me that he had a friend in Tromsø that he would try to give me their number! He is a REFERRAL AND MISSIONARY MACHINE! (really, that is what all the missinoaries say here) :) I love love love Drammen. I gave Debby the pearls that Yayoi gave to me to give to someone on my mission. And then, and last night with Sister Frampton, were the only times I have cried knowing that I am leaving. Im getting better at not being so emotional! ;) haha, no I dont know why Im not breaking down more. Ja vel!





Today we are going to visit some of my favorite people to say goodbye, then we are going to eat dinner with Debby and the Kongsberg elders :) Elder Hinton, in Kongsberg, is going to Bodø, so we will be traveling a little bit together! Just to Oslo though. Anyways, I will be leaving tomorrow morning at 6:45 from my apparment, so TONIGHT for you all!
Men men, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! Have a great week and I will talk to you next week!!! :)


STOR KLEM,
Søster Chapman


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CELEBRATING 200 YEARS!

Kjære familie,
HAPPY 17.MAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You probably had no idea that it was Norways national holiday, but here it is HUGE! Anyways, this week was really good! Since we celebrated syttende Mai all of Saturday, we didnt have a pday on Monday.














So last monday we went to a less actives house that lives about an hour away. The drive was gorgeous and the weather was great! We decided that instead of traveling back right afterwards, we would knock on some doors for an hour. It was amazing, that the second to last door that we knocked on, a 17ish year old girl answered. We got her number and she said we could come back. She also told us how she had met a sister, named Sister Pitts in Oslo on a train! It had to have been a few months ago, because Sister Pitts is now in Kristiansand! It is so cool how people get prepared by us without us even knowing! Her dad is Christian and her mom is Muslim. We are way excited to go back :)











Tuesday was a crazy day. We started it off with District Meeting and a late Cinco de Mayo lunch. We made cafe rio rice and dressing, oh it was delicious! (that is what I miss from the states...cafe rio and inaka sushi.) We had a teach with a less active, so we got on the bus and the stress began! We had to pay for this bus, Sister Frampton dropped 20 kr. in the vent, we didnt know where to get off, etc. etc. So we asked a lady and she kind of knew. But I went and asked the driver. As I was asking, he opened up the door for another lady to get off, so I moved and the door squished me because my backpack was so huge! embarrassing!!! But he stopped at the stop we needed. We thought we got to the less actives house, so we called her and WE WERE AT THE WRONG ADDRESS. She wasnt so nice to me on the phone...and hung up on me...so we got in not the best moods. Soon we snapped out of it and we knocked on some doors! It was GORGEOUS outside, and suddenly, there was thunder and BLACK clouds! We decided to catch a bus home, to get on with our plans and it started sprinkling...then POURING. I didnt have a hood and Sister Framptons coat wasnt waterproof. So we got DRENCHED. Luckily, a sweet lady in the ward named Rikke drove passed and picked us up :) Then we met with Dennis later that night! And we just love him, so that was hyggelig :)











Wednesday was also a good day! We had some contacting time, and it was a gorgeous day. We tried talking to some people on benches. The first wasnt so interested, but took a card. The second said we could sit downand talk to her, but if her baby woke up she would have to go...and her BABY WOKE UP. So she left and took a pamphlet. And the third was a girl that was russ. In Norway when you are about to graduate, they go CRAZY. It actually isnt good, partying, etc. etc. But they have some (most are) red pants that they wear that they can decorate, and they give out cards that they designed with a picture of them, etc. Anyways, she said we could talk to her for a few minutes. So we shared some of the plan. She was so sweet. She hasnt lived at home since she was 16 or something, and her dog recently passed away. She doesnt believe in God, but is open to all religions. She didnt want to give us her number, but we gave her ours, and hope so so so much that she calls us or gets in contact with missionaries or the church again! Then we met with a less active and non member that I havent met with since the first day or 2 in Drammen! She is from St. George, and he is norwegian. ANyways, we had a delicious bbq in their backyard, and had a thought. They were also in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday!!! Boy do we love them! (it is so nice to talk to other americans that arent missionaries sometimes) :) That night we met with Debby! It had been forever because she had been sick! We went throught the Baptismal Questions with her and it went so good :) She was still struggling with smoking, but she knows she will DO IT! Sister Frampton looked at her and asked if we could give something up to...like sugar! I looked at her and was like..."well...what about cheese and...?"And sister frampton said it was too easy... hahaha! Inside I was screaming, "WHY DIDNT WE TALK ABOUT THIS!? I LOVE NORWEGIAN CHOCOLATE!" hahha, but I agreed! So we only eat sugar when we are at members houses and on 17.mai :) Anyways, Debby is one of my favorite people ever!











Thursday we did some weekly planning and ate dinner with an old Norwegian lady named Ina :) Her grandson is actually a missionary here in Norway now! Later that night we visited the Evensen family. Margrete served in Temple Square 10 or so years ago. they are the CUTEST family!
On Friday I got to SKYPE SERGE with Sister Robbins!!!! The Fromgren family let us use their house and computer to Skype. :) Anyways, Serge is in Italy and hasnt gone to church yet, but should have gone yesterday in Switzerland! It was so fun to talk to him and Sister Robbins! He is doing so well, still reading in MB :) He is trying to get in contact with the missinoaries, so I hope they just kill him with love there in Italy. :)
That night we met with John and Rannveig helped. I think it will start moving a little faster with him now.











Then Saturday was 17.MAI!!!!!!!!!!! We woke up early and got ready, then the Kongsberg Elders picked us up and we drove to Oslo (only about 45 minutes from us)! We met with other missionaries at the APs appartment parking lot, then caught the t-bane to the city, where we walked to the palace! We got "vip seating"...more like "vip standing in the hot sun trying to see over tall norwegian mens heads" haha, no but it was great! We found a good spot to stand and were able to see the royal family come out! I was expecting, or hopeing for a..."DOO DOO DO DOOOO! The King...of NORWAY!!" "AHHHH!!!!!"
Norwegians are not crazy loud like us Americans. haha











They came out and waved and there was polite quiet palm clapping. Then they played some of Norways songs, and everyone was singing SO quietly! It was definitely Norwegian culture! But it was SO cool!!! I loved it! The Royal family was out for a LONG time, waving and smiling and standing there :) We had hoped and prayed for nice weather on Saturday because the weather had been so weird! and we had heard it might be bad weather. But it was CLEAR blue skies and GORGEOUS! Then we stood and watched some of the Barnatog! Where little kids walk in a parade with flags! There are some bands and dancers too. It was so cute :) Then we explored! We took pictures of random people. Ladies in their bunads were SO BEAUTIFUL! They are different style bunads in each area in Norway. They all have real silver on them, so they are A FORTUNE to buy! Buy oh so so so so pretty! Ice Cream and Hot Dogs are the food for that day! haha they were also selling cotton candy, 55 kr cinnamon boller, etc. :) Our feet were killing us, because the roads were blocked off so we had to walk so much more than we had to to get to the YSA center in the city! Afterwards we took a t-bane back to the APs appartment parking lot and drove to President and Sister Evans house and had a bbq!!! We played games, ate, got burnt (FINALLY!), and relaxed. Oh it was SOOOO fun!!!!! I am so lucky to be in this area right now, because the missionaries up north and on the west and south didnt get to come! It was a once in a life time experience and it was AMAZING!!!!! The pictures dont even give it credit. We also, when we were in Oslo went to the water and took pictures there :) sooo sooo nice. I LOVE NORWAY!!! It is my favorite place on earth!!!!! WE had the whole day free, people wouldnt have been so happy with us if we tried proselytting, so we got home and relaxed, watched a movie (the lion king) and went to bed! It was an AMAZING DAY!!!











The next morning we woke up SORE. SOOOO SORE! I felt sick and our feet and legs (like the night before) hurt. We had to walk to church, but with our missionary clothes, wore tennis shoes. We looked absolutely riciculous, but it felt SO MUCH BETTER than if we wore our other shoes! We had MMK and Debby had her interview! It went so well and SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!! She just CANNOT smoke this week, welll....ever again! We know she can do it and she does too! It was actually really cool, when we were walking to church I felt like we needed to call her. So we did and afterwards she texted and said. "It was a good thing you called! I would have kept sleeping because someone knocked on my door in the middle of the night and my sleep got disrupted!" She was at church and all was so great :) Then we ate dinner with an old lady (left over hotdogs from 17.Mai) :) It was great!
This week was SO good!!! I am sick though, surprise surprise! SIster Evans gave me lots of medicine and I will see her and President tomorrow at District Meeting for interviews! My body is just exhausted. Today we are going to go shopping with Debby so that will be fun :) I need to buy new shoes, and maybe I will buy some other things :)














Anyways, the sun is SHINING and it is WARM today!
I hope your day is so great!!! And I will talk to you next week!!!! :)
STOR KLEM, Søster Chapman


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