Monday, September 18 2017

This weeks overall message was:

Just Look Around. Almost everyday when I asked someone if they believed that there was a God who watched over them someone would respond, "Just look around." Wow. Powerful. One of my favorite answers I got from a pagonistic man was, "God is everywhere. Just look at the sky. What is holding it up?" So true. God really is everywhere. We just have to open our eyes and marvel at the creations he has set before us. Luckily I was able to do that quite a lot this week - both the physical creations and the spiritual creations he had in store.

1- LANGFOSSEN. Last monday we hiked the tallest waterfall in Norway.

We went with the philipinno members of our grenn. It was so fun. We did not get to the top because everyone needed to capture the moment with 100x selfies. That is okay though. It made it easier for me to be still and know god in his creations. The hike was phenomenal. It was super rainy and then super not rainy. LUCKY. THe entire hour drive there, Jennifer (a soon to be bride) sang church songs to us. It was fun. I love Norway. I literally am living in a place where people DIE to travel to. Søster Earl helped me learn that we need to enjoy what God has given us to enjoy while we have it. She used to try to chase waterfalls for hours and hours in california...only to find a little teeny baby one.

She said why would she chase waterfalls where god had given her beaches? She just needed to have hope that one day god would send her to a place where she could enjoy chasing as many waterfalls as she wanted, and enjoy the beaches while she could. Cool life lesson.

2- We went to Bergen on Tuesday. aka I got to hang with Søster Wheeler. So fun. Bergen is beautiful. We were so slap happy on the 4 hour busride though. We laughed for like ten minutes because we tried to combine three peoples names together - Sarkjarsheyer. Not very funny but it was at the time. We got to have a 40 minute ferry ride on the fjord in the sun. That was super enjoyable. I knitted for some of it. turning into a grandma haha. But the travel was awesome. On the way home I fell asleep and my arm fell onto the guy next to me. When i woke up i felt so guilty hahaha it was so funny because it was not a big deal at all but I am really trying to be as obedient as possible. I sang like 5 primary songs to feel better.

3- In bergen we went to relief society. IT WAS SO FUN. They actually have a ward there so there were like 14 ladies there. We learned all about honey. and we ate a ton. Food is what brings people together in norway. Bergen was beautiful though. I would love to serve there one day. I learned a lot about 5 minute friends - I made a lot of cool ones on the trains there. Also Søster Jepsen and Elder Jepsen are sure I am related to them. IDK! They thought i was family though so they treated me as such.

4- I met a søster who just got to norway who is only here because of her patriarchal blessing too. She is having the same problems i had (have) and I was able to give her hope. It was really cool to talk to her and realize all that i have been through and learned. Maybe that is why it was so hard for me. who knows.

5- MY ONE HUNDRED DAY MARK WAS FRIDAY! Søster Earl did my makeup and dressed me up and made me a sign. We had so much fun that day taking pictures. We got sushi and that was so fun. We also called some of my batchmates and sang happy birthday to them in norwegian to celebrate. My journal is very fun from that day. ( I have started to write crazy journal entries and they are all so fun. I cannot wait to show everyone)

6- Saturday morning our branch president and wife called us at like 830. They rubbed it in our face how they were still in bed, but then told us that since the sun was finally out they wanted to have a grenn party in a few hours. HAHA. So we called all of the members and invited them to come to their house for a party. It was so fun!! We just barbequed and ate. It was funny because no one was really talking at all for the first 40 minutes..once we started eating people began to talk though. I ate so much. I was so stoked to get to eat some grilled meat and hotdogs. I ate 5 hotdogs and 4 chicken strips and 4 waffles and 3 potatoes and 3 rices, and 3 marshmallows over a fire. HELP!! I have not gained weight though since i have gotten to norway. Which is kind of a miracle.. We tried to leave the party early to do some missionary work but our president would not let us! He was like, "You have members, less actives, and non members right here. The complete package!" He was right. I really try to enjoy every second with the members.

7- In churc on sunday I had to translate for 2 girls who were visting from germany and the states. It was so hard but I was able to do it! COOL.

8- I met A TON of really cool five minute friends. One of them even left the bus and a norwegian couple asked me if my friend was going to train right now - DID YOU CATCH THAT?! They thought that she was MY FRIEND! She was my friend, idk if i was hers though haha. But it was so fun. I love five minute friends. People are so nice wow. I want to be a norwegian!!!! I am working on it. THe adjustment back to the US would be impossible though ahhaa.

That is pretty much everything that happened this week. We taught a few lessons. A few awesome lessons. We found a lot of really cool people. We got invited over to two random peoples houses to eat. Life is good. Norway is good. I love it. I have learned so much. I will keep learning. I am so stoked to be here. Still hard, but that is what it has to be. We can grow and be thankful because of our trials not in spite of them.

ENJOY THE PICS. Try not to get too jealous. I am of myself though so good luck haha.

Søster Horrocks