LAST LETTER

FROM MOM: AS THRILLED AS WE ARE (ME ESPECIALLY) TO HAVE SIERRA COMING HOME THIS WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED BY HER SERVICE, HER JOYFUL ATTITUDE, HER HONESTY IN HER LETTERS ... SO WITH SOME SADNESS FOR HER HAVING TO LEAVE HER BELOVED NORWAY AND A TITCH OF SADNESS FOR US NOT GETTING THOSE AMAZING WEEKLY LETTERS, AND WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT, GRATITUDE AND JOY - HERE'S SIERRA'S LAST LETTER:



Kjære familie,
ohhh myyy goodness. This might seem pointless to write an email...but I wanted to write about my week anyways. It was a good one! I am so excited to see you all and cannot believe how fast time has gone. Today we went on a hike in Sandvika, and it was GORGEOUS. We looked out on Oslo fjord and the city and it was so beautiful. My heart is in Norway.
BUT, I am really excited to see you all!!! The clock is ticking. Tomorrow is my last missionary day. Then on Wednesday we will have a day in Oslo with all of the sisters leaving. There are 11 in my group that are leaving. But 6 or so of them have their parents coming to pick them up! And then Ill wake up bright and early on Thursday morning to fly to London (7 hour layover) and then right directly to Vegas alone! ahh.
Anywho. This week was good!
On Monday we had pday and I did some more shopping with Sister Harrison. I finished up with the shopping I needed to do and then that night we went and stopped in at Twinkles house. We shared a thought with her and then she asked if we could share something with her daughter, who was sitting at the table doing homework. Nina, about 20 yrs old, isnt religious, but believes in a higher power. It was great to be able to share what we love with her...and she was open to it! I hope we can teach her again!
On Tuesday we had Zone Leader Training, and then all eat kebabs for lunch. We then visited an old lady member named Inger :)
Wednesday was also good. Sister Buhler had a meeting for being a trainer, and I went on splits with Sister McArthur! We taught Martin, our investigator. He is very Christian, but is kind of controlled by his mom. If he doesnt go with her to church than there is lots of problems. But I felt strongly to promise him, that if he went to this church this past week with a question, he would get it answered. And that wasnt me, but as a representative of Jesus Christ I did that. And it was so cool to give him that promise. He didnt end up coming though to church. But I know that it would have happened if he would have come. He needed that faith too... A little later we did language study with Cecilia (from Alta) And that was fun! Sister Buhler has been pretty sick so that hasnt been fun. And Ive gotten a little sick from her too :( But its alright! We went banking a little later, then came back to the church for an Open House that night! It was by the youth, and was great. :) During the meeting they asked if someone could play the piano and no one raised their hand except me, so i played. And of course they picked two hard songs! haha, I dont like that feeling of your heart pounding like crazy when you have to play the piano. But I prayed and I was able to do it okay! The Lord really does help with the smallest of things!!!


Then it was thursday! I got permission to go and visit Debby! I had contact with her on FB, so we had an appointment. We travelled there that day. And I went on splits with one of the Drammen Sisters, Sister Larsen, and DEBBY WASNT HOME! My heart was so sad! She didnt answer her phone, or facebook, or text. It made me so sad. I put a note on her door and sticky notes around her whole house. I hope she knows that i really do love her. The other sisters were at Dennis' house!!! So I got to go and see him!!! What a tender mercy! It was so great to see him!!! Then later Sister Buhler and I drove to the Fromgrens house. She was going to come and bring dinner to us and we were going to all eat with Debby, but since that didnt happen, we ate with her and her family! I LOVE THEM! I really really love that family!!! Then we drove home and taught Ivan that night. It is so interesting to me to see how people believe so differently. The Godhead is so essential in the gospel and he doesnt understand it. The scriptures can be so confusing, but that is why we have prayer and a living prophet! Anyways, sad, but good day!
On Friday we had to get things ready for the street stand we were going to have on saturday! So we made a big poster that said, "meet the mormons" (by the way, that is the first movie i want to see when i get home! i heard its awesome!!!) and then we did some weekly planning! We came to institute, walking with an investigator, but then while we were walking, he told us he had to just look and leave. WHAT!? haha we had travelled to oslo for him! Anyways, he will come next week. It was a tender mercy, because then i got to say goodbye to Mariana from Drammen! :)
Saturday was our street stand!!! all of us missionaries came to the center and carried 4 tables, posters, cards, books, etc. to the area were going to do it. IT WAS SO HEAVY. The elders found a huge Christ poster that said, Jesu Kristi Kirke av Siste Dagers Hellige on it! It was awesome! The stand was so cool! Members came and we talked with people, brought them to the stand and got more than 30 people that were interseted to learn in 3 hours. It was AWESOME! And at the beginning there was a man playing his flute. It was great! I met some interesting people. One vietnamese man speaking norsk was talking to me and a member and was squeezing my arm saying something about God having a body. Haha, and then we met another man from northern norway that said he belonged to a religion that they eat mean people. That instead of little elves they have elves that eat mean children and santa clause eats mean parents. HORRIBLE, HUH!? hahaha anyways, it was great! And the day before and the day after was completely rainy, but it was sunny and beautiful that day. :) We taught Ermando, an albanian investigator with a member from the philippines named siahanie, and then we shared something with her. :) It was great!
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. Ivan came! And I bore my testimony. I couldnt hold it together! It is nice ot have Sister Harrison here too, becuase we feel the sadness together. We taught Ivan afterwords with our MMK and his wife. And then ate dinner, and banked. IN A HUGE HOUSE AREA! It was mansions!!! When we were walking over to the bus, I went over and talked to an old lady waiting for a trikk that was not going to come. angrily, she told me that what i said (about us being missionaries) wasnt going to help her. But she had been standing there for forever and cant stand that long. She was waiting for a taxi that was taking forever to come. Long story short, we couldnt find somewhere for her to sit and i was on the phone with the DL going to get the taxi companies number, when the taxi came! She was so sweet. I gave her a card with our nubmer and a website on it and told her if she wanted to learn sometime or ever needs help, to call. She said, she hasnt needed help in a long time. Or this is the first time in a while that shes needed help. It wasnt coincidence that we were there! Then we visited the Birkelands! So great! He let me play his guitar and I played Baby Toes for them before we left. Well a part of it. :) They are so great! At the bus stop on the way home, I talked to a man and sister buhler talked to another and we both got appointments with them! It was miracles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know that miracles are real. Heavenly Father is aware of us and knows us so well. I am so thankful that I have served a mission. It has been the best decision I have ever made and I hope that every single youth prays about serving. I have never felt so much love, and I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father. I cant express how I feel, becuase no one else understands, but Jesus Christ. I know he lives. I know he knows me. And I know that this message is true! I know it!!!
Jeg ønsker for hele verden å vite at dette budskapet er sant. At Jesus Kristus har oppstått og på grunn av det, kan vi gjøre det samme! Han er min Frelser og Forløser. Joseph Smith er en sann profet. Familier kan vare evig. Hvor spesielt er det? Jeg VET at det er sant! Jeg er så glad i disse menneskene i Norge. Mitt hjerte er her og det skal alltid være sånn.


Love you all!
See you in 3 days!
xoxo
Søster Chapman


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IT'S FALL!!!

Dear lovely family,
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! sjfpeaifnpekajfphjfkja;kjkla;sjdfineifiaj jkdpjwan jfkdpwaje!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just needed to get that out. WHERE HAS MY TIME GONE!?


Anyways, this week was good. Although it was fall break here, and lots of people were busy or gone, we were able to get a lot done! We had a total of 10 referrals this week! I have such a strong testimony of if we ask, The Lord will give it to us...if its in the way we think, or if its in His way. That makes me understand even more how personal and individual Heavenly Father is.
p.s. my english has gone way down this past week, so sorry for the weird problems with my speech. haha
Ihvertfall, General Conference was AMAZING! It literally is like Christmas for me now! And it goes by so fast. I remember when I was little, sitting in the chapel on the ground with bry and az in Sitka, doing the bingo game with candy corn. And it seemed like HOURS on HOURS. But this literally felt like 20 minutes! Its insane!


But we'll start with last monday. For pday, Sister Harrison and I went on splits and went shopping for...guess who? YOU ALL! haha, i found things for everyone but one of you...so today is my last day of shopping. :) It was fun to do that and find things for you all. Then we travelled home to Nordstrand (Sister Buhler and I) and went to an appointment...but we got kebabed. :( But when we were at the bus station to meet with the man that didnt come, ANOTHER potential who had cancelled an appointment walked up to us and asked us what it was we wanted to talk about. and that we could talk right then! She also had a friendwith her! So we taught a little bit of the first lesson right there! It was a miracle!!! Then after trying a potential and her saying she actually didnt want us to come, we found another man and taught him right there. It was a miraculous night. The Lord was watching out for us.
On Tuesday we went and visited a member named Inger. She had expectd others to come and eat with her, but they never came, so she fed us! A typical Norwegian meal. Bread with toppings on it. It was delicous! I had bread with goat cheese, smoked salmon and boiled eggs. yum. Our appointments that night fell through also. So we watched the General Womens meeting! It was great! And I really needed it. I MISS THE TEMPLE!!!!


But that night, Sister Buhler and I started the tradition (for the week) to hurry and get ready for bed after planning, and watching the District to fall asleep. :)
Wednesday was a tough day. All of our appointments fell through. We banked lots and then came to Oslo. We met with a member from the Phillippines. And it was so interesting. She told us that she almost cancelled on us. Becuase she was tired. She said, "I knew the sisters would have understood, because theyre nice." But she didnt cancel, and came! I know that that was Satan trying to tell her not to come. Because Satan convinced all of the other appointments we had during the day to not come. And that proved to me the annoyingness of Satan. haha, but Sahanie came! And she gave us a referral of one of her friends she had met this past week. :) Our last appointment of the day also fell through. He postponed it and then ended up cancelling after we waited for him with a member. But The Lord is merciful and proved His power on Wednesday.
What a miraculous day! It was like sunshine after a rainstorm. We went to the bus station, and met with Tony. He brought one friend and as we were talking, another one of his friends walked up. And then another came over! We got 3 referrals and 3 new investigators!!!! What a miracle! And then we went to Randas house, the potential we miraculously taught at the bus station a couple days earlier, and taught her about the first lesson. It was great to be in someones house and teach. She was drinking...mette...the drink trev drinks haha Anywho, then we did some weekly planning. Later in the day we travelled out to a members house. President Evans councelor, President Herland and his wife. We ate with them and it was such a tender mercy. He told me he wouldnt have guessed that I was about to come ohme! That made me feel good. I love them!!! I love meeting members and then gaining a stronger love for the area. it makes me love Nordstrand even more! Afterwards we went to the Birkelands, a less active couple, and talked with them. I believe, well I know, that the best way to strengthen your testimony, or to get through a hard time is by helpeing others by bearing your testimony of it. I got to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ. And I know that He lives. I just know it!
Friday was also good. We had District Meeting, and Elder Nillson, our DL asked if I would bear my testimony about being a concecrated missionary. I cried, of course. I learned myself, that to be a concecrated missionary, it is so personal. We all make mistakes, we all are disobedient at times, but as long as we walk with The Lord and LEARN, we are BECOMING, and being concecrated missionaries. I feel like we can all be more concecrated children of God. Mom or Dad gave me a quote a while back about how each time we go through a trial of some sort, it is helping us be more worthy to be called the children of God. I know its true. And I know that is what has happened on my mission. Ive gone through things no one else will understand. Only Christ and Heavenly Father. Only them. And so although I am going home. I am leaving Norway here, and the people are staying here, my relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father will always be with me. We later visited a less active lady. She had made us a feast of little foods. Like sandwiches and desserts, and fruit tea. Norwegians love to give you some food when you visit them. :) We talked with her about missoinary work. And she believed she hadnt been doing any! But she had been. We invited her to start using church words in her speach. Like "relief society" and then at some point, they will ask what she is talking about. Later we met with Ivan, with our MMKs wife, Marie. We were planning on teaching the 1st lesson. But got stuck on the 1st part...Heavenly Father. He doesnt believe in the trinity, and doesnt belive in the Godhead. It got really confusing. He believes they are all the same person with different bodies. But they exact same mind. It was so confusing! It proves to me that we NEED prophets to help us to understand the doctrine. I am so thankful for a living prophet to guide us today.


On Saturday we started off the day banking! We contacted our way to an area and banked there also. We were able to teach 2 lessons! And then after travelling to Oslo for General Conference, before it started, we taught one of Tonys friends (one of the 3 referrals) in the center! It went so well. :) He prayed, and although he hadnt done it before, thinking back, I get the same feeling each time someone prays for the first time. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Isnt it crazy to imagine someones first time praying to Heavenly Father? I am not sure if it was his first time, but at least the first time praying the way God has asked us to! Then we watched Getneral Conference. Lots of missionaries and members were here! It was so fun! We had dessert afterwards and then travelled home. :)
Then on Sunday morning we travelled to the center in Oslo, had MMK, then watched the Womens Meeting again with other women as the men watched the Priesthood session, and then we watched the saturday night session. Had dinner, and then watched the sunday morning session live! (6pm our time) We were singing the middle song the same time as you all! How cool! :) We slept at the sisters appartment last night so that this morning we could watch the last session. HOW COOL WAS ELDER BEDNARS TALK!? That is similar to what he said to the Norwegians here a couple weeks ago. He is so cool! I love that he talked to people not of this church. Ahhh conference was SO great!
This week Sister Buhler and I were at the bus stop, and I talked with this lady. She started asking questions about where it talked about the MB in the Bible and,not bible bashing, I tried telling her. She wouldnt listen. She walked over the the trikk and I walked went ot her, not wanting her to get away with false doctrine in her head about what she thinks. We sat with her on the trikk and she was not open. She would not listen to us and would not accept. It makes me sad when people will not let me speak, say that they are willing to learn and listen, but in reality, they arent. And all they are going to do is tell you that you are wrong. Anyways, I tried my best to keep the Spirit there and told her, "You know...our only purpose is to bring people closer to Christ." And she told met hat we dont bring anyone closer to Christ. She believes in the Trinity so went off on telling us that we arent Christian. Oh boy.... Sister Buhler wasnt talking very much and I found out later that she was so mad inside that she couldnt speak or else she would have exploded hahaha Anyways, It proves to me that THIS IS THE TRUTH! Why else would this be so opposed!? No other reason, than that this is the truth.


I have never felt so torn in my life. I am so sad to leave. But so happy to see you all. I am scared to be in that world again. haha Last week Sister Buhler and I started singing a song from Les Mis and she kept going and sang a line I didnt know. And I was shocked with how horrible the line was! (not that sister buhler sang somethingh bad....itwas just the song) and I started crying b ecause I realized how bad of a world I ws coming back to!!! ahhh im so scared. Itll be okay! Ill be okay. haha ahhhhhh
Anyways, Ilove you all so much. I hope you all, my family, member friends, non member friends, know that I KNOW that Christ is the Savior of MY world. And of the entire world. He is my best friend. He has gone through everything with me. He is the only one that knows how I feel. He is there. I read a quote this week in a Liahona. Fromt he 4 minutes talk from last conference. And it said something like. "You prepared for this for a millennia. The Savior of the World is on YOUR SIDE. You cannot fall or fail with Him." Something like that. I know its true! I love you all!


LOVE, Sister Chapman
xoxoxoxo




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