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| The best panoramic picture ever. Elder Levine = Morphius :P |
Words cannot express what has taken place this week. It's incredible!! The Lord is truly at the helm.
Last
week, we did some deep cleaning (and boy did this apartment need it.
Whew! P.S. mildew is easily destroyed by a chlorine/water solution) and
hiked Dalsnuten. Gorgeous fall colors were everywhere!
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| Fall colors! |
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| ON TOP OF THE WORLD feelings. |
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| The sign we didn't follow at first . . . Read your scriptures! |
And as a side
note, make sure to always follow the signs to the trail. It was
strangely symbolic that we went the exact opposite way the sign told us
to go, and we found ourselves in a slightly precarious situation once we
actually stopped. We repented and found our way back. It turned out
well in the end :D.
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| Follow those sign posts! |
While out bonking we received the age-old classic
"from the second floor" answer. The man came out on his balcony "Yeah??"
"We're missionaries out to share a message about Jesus Christ!" "Well
I'm christian!" "Then this is the book for you!" "Hold on a sec, I'll be
right down!" Whaa?? Hehe. It is always refreshing to be so well
received.
Did you know that Alma 2 is basically the War in
Heaven just redone in a different setting? Yeah, it blew my mind too.
Thanks be to Elder Levine :)
Due to a letter
earlier this week (Thanks, Austin :), I have felt that I should share
some mission preparation advice for all of you preparing to go. Here
goes!
- Go to seminary (You told me not to include this, but I did anyway :P)
- Establish solid scripture study patterns NOW. I would recommend at least 30 minutes per day. Mornings are best. Always include some of the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel. Study that which is most relevant to you now. (For example, I remember reading PMG chapter 13 before my mission and falling asleep multiple times. Now, I am giddy to read that chapter. "OH. THAT'S what the ward mission leader is supposed to do." or "Wow, our Bishop is awesome at his job!" etc etc.). For BoM studies, I highly recommend going from beginning to end with a certain topic in mind (Christ's strengthening power, or patterns of good vs. evil leadership, etc) and underlining everything according to that topic. I one day want to have a bookshelf filled with copies of the Book of Mormon according to topic.
- Take prayer seriously NOW. No body likes getting information-dumped. Neither does God. He wants to hear your feelings and your thoughts, not a grocery list of concerns and worries that may perhaps not be in your best interest in the long run. He knows what you ought to pray for. He can help and let you know. To everyone I recommend prayerfully considering and applying this articlehttp://www.lds.org/
ensign/1976/01/before-praying? lang=eng&query=before+praying+ bassett 
Classic Joseph Smith First Vision pose :D - Approach Preach My Gospel less like a manual and more like scripture. Meaning: pray beforehand and during your study of that book for understanding. It was written by prophets and apostles - it IS scripture. Treat it like scripture.
- Start writing down your personal testimony and experiences of each of the principles of the Gospel. Missionaries are MUCH more powerful when they can testify of something personally. Whether it's tithing, chastity, the word of wisdom, the Prophet Joseph Smith, President Monson, prayer or scripture study - have a personal experience of each in order to testify boldly and undeniably for your arsenal. How did we defeat Satan before we came down to earth? By the blood of the Lamb (Christ's Atonement) and our testimony! Keep it sharp.
- Go on splits with the local missionaries. Practice teaching with them. Ask for suggestions as to how you can improve your teaching skills.
- Eat well and stay in shape. It'll help keep your energy and spirit's up - even when things are tough-
- Date! In groups, of course. We need missionaries with social skills - most of which are best learned while on a date. Missionaries work best when they know how to work with people and help them feel comfortable.
- Don't forget who you are. Do not bury yourself and become a missionary robot. God gave you your talents and personality for a reason - don't hide them. Remember, it was YOU who the Lord called and prepared beforehand so that you could go on this mission. Hold all of the rules, be 100% obedient, and watch your personality blossom. I've seen it in my fellow MTC group and previous companions. It's amazing.
- Expect to change for the better, despite the difficulties of missionary work. The Lord will shape and form you to be well on your way for the rest of your life and on into the eternities. God is in control. Trust that.
On Wednesday, we had too many appointments one night for the
both of us (first time in my mission ever!!), so Elder Levine and I went
on splits with members. Elder Levine went with Bro. R. to help an
investigator to stop smoking (the missionary stop smoking problem is
awesome - highly recommend it! He hasn't smoked since he began :D). I
went on splits with a priest in our ward to meet with our investigator
D. The Spirit was present the whole time, the testimony that the priest
bore was perfect, and it was focused the whole time. I couldn't have
asked for a better splits!
Thursday and Friday we had a mission
conference with President Teixeira from the Seventy. It was a wonderful
two days to recognize our weaknesses, and how we could overcome them and
achieve great things in this mission. Our big focuses right now are
finding new investigators, reading PMG everyday, using the new PMG DVDs
(which are great by the way), and involving members in our missionary
work. I cannot tell you what a difference it makes when a member his or
herself finds someone and introduces to the missionaries. A system of
support is already in place, and the relationship between the missionary
and that investigator is already solid in a teacher/student
relationship. Members ought to be friends, and missionaries ought to be
inviters (we are to Invite - and teach when necessary. Notice that to
teach isn't anywhere in our purpose!). So go on out there to your local
investigators at church and invite them over for dinner. That makes a
world of a difference.
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Now it's time for a huge story that I'll try my best to recount:
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| Motorhomes are extremely convenient . . . . |
The sisters here have an investigator named M. She lives all the way up in Haugesund. She was prepared and ready and excited for baptism on the 27th, but due to some complications, by Thursday she suddenly had certain fears and doubts. The baptism was supposedly "called off", but on Friday night we prayed together and felt extremely peaceful and comforted. We knew that things would work out. Sure enough, the next morning we were driving up the coast toward Haugesund without much of a plan other than going to surprise her. After a few calls, and a while out in the city, scouring it to find her, we got a call back from her that there was an emergency situation at her work so she had to work today. She wouldn't be off until 3 pm. My companion and I had an appointment back in Stavanger that evening, and had to leave by 2 pm. Now unsure of what to do, and that peaceful reassuring feeling gone, we scrambled for ideas of what to do. After another good prayer, we felt that we needed to stay and support M. We made certain arrangements that evening so that our appointment would work out that evening. 3:30 rolled around, and we sat down with M. at a picnic bench with a stunning backdrop of rolling green hills and the ocean (Western Norway, I tell ya!). Through much inspiration, and an influx of the Spirit, the lesson was extremely uplifting and inspiring. We read Alma 7 together and discussed concerns and needs. The sisters were awesome with questions and timing - it was so cool! By the end, you could cut the Spirit with a knife, it was so thick. "So can I be baptized tonight?" "Of course!" Haha! Through some arrangements with members, we got in a motor home and made our way to Sagbakken (gorgeous little bay - perfect for baptism). At 7:30 that evening, 0 degrees celsius, we stepped out into the water with car headlights and moonlight showing the way. Shivering and shaking, we made our way further into deeper water. However, once she was under the water she described it like this: "as I was under, I felt this warmth and comfort like I've never felt before. I may have been under the water for 10-15 minutes it felt so refreshing." She came out of the
water not shivering whatsoever - and we made our way back to the motor home to warm up. The Spirit was present throughout the whole day - it was such a quaint, lovely experience! With some chili and dry clothes, we warmed ourselves back up, then my companion and I drove home :D. We were so amazed and stunned as to how everything played out and worked in the end, even though we had no idea of what to do to begin. We were "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand what we should do." (1 Nephi 4:6). Despite all odds, the Spirit led, and God moved with us. After hearing her experiences receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, she said she had never felt anything quite like it. Warm, and peaceful. God always holds His end of the covenant..jpg)
Baptism is a sacred promise that God provides to each one of us. An opportunity to allow Him to bless us in an even greater degree. We can all feel this power when we attend a baptismal service or partake of the sacrament on Sunday - IF we reverently approach it and open our hearts.
If we so desire His comfort, God will never leave us comfortless.
-Eldste Bryce Thomas Johnson
Baptism is a sacred promise that God provides to each one of us. An opportunity to allow Him to bless us in an even greater degree. We can all feel this power when we attend a baptismal service or partake of the sacrament on Sunday - IF we reverently approach it and open our hearts.
If we so desire His comfort, God will never leave us comfortless.
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| Harald Haarfagre's tombstone - now with good lighting :) |
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| Elder Weaver, while playing farkle, rolled 6 1s. Is that insane or what? |
