December 8

Hey everybody, it's been another great week! Time is going quick, and it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. This was the first real week with snow that I have had so far this year, so that was nice for a change. It's not fun driving in, though, but that just takes me back to my Utah days. The days are getting shorter and colder, but it is also starting to feel a lot more cozy and to be a lot more like what people typically imagine when they think of Norway. Little wooden houses with smoke coming out the chimney from the fire in the fireplace, snow covering the trees and rooftops, small trolls walking all over the place, the whole lot. Well, most of that is true anyway. But I really have no idea what people imagine when they think of Norway, but I can tell you this much: Norway is the best.

This week we have been working really hard to prepare for some conferences that are going to happen in January, so we have spent a lot of time in the office looking at our computer screens. It was actually a pretty tough week as far as the work goes, because we didn't really ever have time to go out, but the Lord blessed us anyway. We spent most of the week pleading with the Lord for some success, and it wasn't looking so good on Sunday. But we got out and taught a wonderful woman named Liv Lund and her son Matthias. The Spirit was so strong as we taught and testified of the gospel, and they both committed to be baptized on the 10th of January. Pray for her, because she really needs the gospel. 

We are also working with Jon Axel still, and he is such a good man. He could be a member except for the fact that he isn't baptized yet. We serve him every week and desire so deeply for him to be baptized, but he just can't seem to recognize the answers he is receiving from Heavenly Father. Sometimes as missionaries we want everything to happen right now, because we work in the short term. But sometimes God's plan is a little broader than that. Ultimately, the most important thing will always be love, and that is the biggest thing we can do to help God's children along the path. So we will just continue to love Jon Axel.

Life is so good, and I am so happy. I am making so many friends in the ward here, and I am going to love the time I have to spend serving the good people in Sandvika. We decided that this week we are going to have an "English fast" where we only speak Norwegian. Our mission is really young, but I am excited for the opportunity to speak the language and work for the gift of tongues.

The work is going forward, and I just want to be a part of it. I hope you all do too! Love you all, and we will talk next week.