Reflections This Holiday Season

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

This past week we were able to celebrate Christmas here in Norway!  Basically, every city here shuts down for the week.  

Norwegian traditions consist of dancing around the Christmas tree, opening presents on Christmas Eve, eating really really 

good food, and being with family.  It was my first white Christmas here as a missionary in Norway - believe it or not!

The highlight of the week was when I was able to Skype with my family on Christmas Day!  I got to see the two new little twin 

nieces my brother and sister-in-law had a couple of weeks ago!  I saw all my family, with exception of my brother Shane, who is 

serving a mission - that was one of the best Christmas presents that I received!

Since I will be going home soon, I have been asked several times if I would have liked to be home for Christmas.

I woke up Christmas morning to start the day just like any other missionary day by reading the scriptures.  As I thought about

how long I've been a missionary, I became extremely content.  There have been Christmases past where I would think, "If I were 

on a mission right now, would I be homesick?"  Of course I love my family, but this Christmas I thought about the privilege it is 

and has been to spend my days as a servant of the Lord.  It was one of the most satisfying Christmas gifts to know that I am 

representing the Lord this Christmas!

I have only one last Preparation Day until I am home.  It has been such a great blessing to be here in Norway! I thank
Heavenly Father every day that He has spent so much time on me to get me to where I am today!

Now for the start of 2015!!!

He Is The Gift

A turn of events here in the last leg of my mission - instead of going to Romerike, I was called the night before I moved and was told I'd serve back in Sandvika instead!  So, back I went to my previous Ward, this time serving with Elder Allen.  I was looking forward to traveling to the area my ancestors come from, but instead find myself here!  Of course, it leads me to think, "Alright, what does the Lord need me for for a second time?"

Last night, we had a pretty cool experience.  We had dinner with a family here in Sandvika.  During our conversation, it came up that my mom was from a small town in Eastern France where she originally joined the church.  The family told me that they had a son who had served in that very town.  They mentioned that they stayed with a family years back - a family who had a lot of kids and the wife decorated eggs.  I shouted, "DET ER TANTEN MIN!!!" "That's my aunt!!"  I was so excited that they had met my family!  They then shared pictures that had my uncle in them!  It was so crazy!!

It was one of those experiences where Heavenly Father was reminding me that He is mindful of where I am.  There have been several experiences I've had like this on my mission.  I generally tell people I am from Chicago in passing, but sometimes it comes out that the very people I meet have been to or even come from Rockford, IL.  I was so amazed at the one time when I spoke to a man on the street - he said, "My wife is from Rockford" and I was shocked and said, "THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM!"  I am certainly confident that our Heavenly Father knows exactly where we are, what we're going through, and who we are to become.

This Christmas, we are focusing on "He Is The Gift" which is being shared by our church.  The church has made a powerful 3-minute film reminding us of what the true meaning of Christmas really is all about.  Attached is a link to the film, so that all can see:

He Is The Gift 

Just before I left Oslo, I had the opportunity to give a blessing to a woman who was just diagnosed with cancer for the second time.  After the blessing was completed, she put her face in her hands and cried.  She thanked us for coming over and sharing in the Spirit with her.  We concluded by reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon, where Christ comes to visit the people.  As we passed the book around, she could hardly stop herself from reading the whole chapter by herself.

This Christmas, it is such a blessing to be able to share The Gift of Jesus Christ.  It has been the greatest blessing to me, to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone here in Norway.  I love this land and I love this work - this is such a special thing to be part of!  I hope everyone is able to enjoy The Gift this Christmas!

Inviting Believers Into Your Home

Hello everyone!!

The week was another incredible one - serving with Elder Skinner.  It never is a dull moment!  We maximize our time and have really received results from everything we do.  This past Mission Leadership Council, we decided as a mission that we will be focusing on being bold as missionaries.  The month of July will be a month of boldness!  We had a training meeting later on in the week, in which we were training on how to be more persistent.  It was a lot of fun to be part of!  Elder Skinner and I applied the things that we learned to our work and were actually let in to several homes this past week!  We taught lessons about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon!  Again, it was so cool to see that when you put forth your faith into practice, you actually get results!

This past week, we taught a woman with whom we have been trying to make contact with for several weeks.  She had canceled a couple appointments on us and eventually told us why - it was because she didn't like to talk about the gospel with people.  She felt like it was strange, but as we called this past time - she read a verse in the Bible that said you can invite believers into your home.  I'm not sure where it is, but it definitely was a mini-miracle that I've greatly appreciated!!

At church on Sunday, there were many youth who were coming back from an event in Sweden - FSY (For the Strength of Youth).  It is the Scandinavian version of EFY here.  The best part of it was that there were youth from Stavanger who came to Drammen!!  I was so grateful to see my friends from Stavanger again and because it was testimony meeting, I got to hear them bear their testimonies!  It was so cool to see the growth that they have made and I was so grateful to be blessed to serve there and here!  I constantly can't believe how incredible our Heavenly Father is.  He continues to answer our prayers and bless us tremendously.  I love Him so much and am grateful that He knows me personally.

I hope for everyone to have this same confidence and to always turn to faith before a wave of fear comes one's way.  I know that it's possible to overcome all things through faith!  I hope everyone has a great week!

My Grandmother's Legacy

Hello everyone!!

I wasn't able to write this past week due to our zone taking our P-Day on this past Sunday.  We celebrated 17 Mai in Oslo!  It was the celebration of 200 years of Independence - such an incredible place to be!  However, this week I would like to write about something even more important that I've been pondering this past week.

My grandmother (Patricia Enger Holden) passed away a little over a week ago.  When I skyped home last week it was a bit sad because most of my family was gathered in California to be at the funeral.  Many sad emotions.  On my end of it, I am serving the Lord here in Norway.  My grandmother's ancestors came from this beautiful land.  When I got my mission call, I immediately called my grandmother to tell her the news.  She told me many things, one of them being, "your mission call completes my life" and "finally we'll have someone in the family speaking Norwegian again!"  Even until  recently, I didn't realize how important it is to her and to the rest of my family.

In the past week, I have seen my grandmother's maiden name two times.  Once on a mailbox and the second time on a truck as we were driving around.  It was a bit of a surprise for me.  My entire mission, I had not seen my grandmother's maiden name, but in the past week - immediately after she passed away, I have seen her name.

On the 16 Mai I was pondering the importance of my mission and I was overcome by many emotions - I realized that my grandmother is now with me on this mission.  I came to realize that she was no longer needed on this Earth but to be with me as I finish out my mission here.  I know that many miracles will begin to unfold here in this wonderful country - in these coming months.  It is only a matter of time that enormous miracles will come to be.  I know that my grandmother will be helping me fulfill those miracles in this land.

I have come to learn more about the Plan of Salvation as we teach people.  When we pass from this life we go to what is called the Spirit World.  That is where my grandmother resides now.  She is helping me fulfill missionary work for those who have not heard of this gospel yet.  I know this to be true because of the experiences I have had as of late.  I have never felt more close to my grandmother than I do now.  Although the sadness of losing a loved one happens, it is because of Jesus Christ - we can all enjoy the companionship of each other even beyond this grave.

If it weren't for my grandmother, my family would not be members of the church.  I would not be in Norway serving a mission.  Because of her life and the mission that she lead, I am now here - reaching the potential that God had intended me to become.  Personally, I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have, but also that my grandmother is now here to help me.  I am so grateful for God's plan for each of His individual children.  I love this work more than anything I've ever experienced.

I wish for everyone to be able to experience the blessings of this Gospel.

Happy Easter 2014!

Hello everyone!

I first want to start by wishing everyone a Happy Easter!!  Norwegians love their holidays!  So, of course, many went to their cabins and enjoyed their vacations!  A lot of people told us that this week would be slow, so due to that bit of info, we decided to hold our Zone Leader Training Meeting. It was an excellent meeting with a great spirit.  We were all pumped to go out and work!  So, we did!

When everyone told us that the week would be slow, our missionaries in this zone responded with an excellent week.  Nearly every companionship found an investigator.  We received several new baptismal dates and everyone was so pumped to go even stronger the coming week!

Some of the blessings that we experienced this week came when we went on splits with the assistants.  We found a couple potential families that we will try back, and we even found some investigators!  One particular day, we decided to fast over our area.  We wanted to have success in our area, knowing that faith requires action of all sorts. 

That very day, as we were driving home, I felt the impression to visit a woman.  As we drove up to the woman's house, her son was just going into the house.  We walked up, door still open, and greeted the woman.  We asked if we could come share a spiritual thought with her.  She invited us in and as we shared our thought and spoke about Christ, she became quite emotional.  We bore testimony to the reality of these things - adding to what she already knew.  As I read from the Book of Mormon, the power and spirit of that book filled the room and she became more emotional.  She said that moments before she had a weak faith, but after the encounter - she was filled with the Spirit and was so much more open to listening.

It was incredible to see the power of the Book of Mormon at work.  It is a book that testifies of the Divinity of Christ.  Many people are afraid of the book because it is new to them.  Of course it is new, but it testifies of the most powerful man that lived on this Earth.  It strengthens our faith and understanding of the work that He performed on this Earth.  It's so special and so real.  I know that there is a power that can't be denied when any honest seeker of the truth reads from it - they become spiritually filled.

I am so grateful to share that message and to have witnessed miracles throughout the Easter season -serving as a servant to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  I know of the reality that He really went through with the pains and afflictions of each one of God's children while He performed His ministry.  I wish that everyone could have that same knowledge about the mercy and love that is found through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone has another great week!

Christmas in Norway 2013

What an amazing time of Christmas it was here in Norway!!  This past week, the work was so slow because absolutely no one goes outside!  We were able to spend much time with the members - welcoming the Spirit in many different activities!  We sang carols one night in city Sentrum and passed out Books of Mormon.  We opened gifts and had many delicious dinners with families!

My absolute favorite part of it all, though, was the time I got to Skype with my family!  I was able to see my parents and siblings on the screen!  It was so nice to feel like I picked up right where I left off with them, but only with a few hundred more spiritual experiences that have shaped me in the last year.  I feel that this time has been the best time of growth for me and that this has been the perfect time for me to serve as a missionary.  I would not have been able to receive so many insights on life and myself, had I not chosen to serve a mission as a 22-24 year old.  I absolutely love the time I have here to serve, and it will only continue to grow.

This past Sunday, we received a moves call and found out that my companion will be moving to Trondheim to be with my old MTC companion, Elder Skinner!  He is going to have an amazing time with Elder Skinner - he was one of my favorites and continues to be!  I'm a little jealous of the companionship - 2 of my favorite missionaries combined!  I will be receiving a companion, Elder Lane, from Arizona.  I have met Elder Lane one time and I remember him telling me something to the effect that I was 'as old as his brother' (I typically get that).  However,  I understand more and more WHY I am here at such a point in time.  As an older missionary, I realize the importance I have to 'be an example'.  Our mission is extremely young.  At one point, over 60% of missionaries here had been out for less than 6 months.  It is extremely important to set the tone for these guys and to expect that we can achieve special things here on this mission.  Miracles will be had.

This past Saturday, we had a Zone Conference where we talked about the upcoming 2014.  We talked about the goals we expect to accomplish and what we need to do in order to accomplish them.  Sister Evans taught us about the importance of setting goals.  It has been something that has always driven me.  I always want to accomplish something that will allow me to feel satisfied.  It is through goals that allow us to stretch and reach for something greater than what we achieve.  She pointed something out that has really stuck with me in the past several days: 'When we set goals and work to achieve them - we also need to be willing to suffer through whatever it takes in order to accomplish that goal.'  I immediately began to think about goals I have once pondered on in the past.  There was a point that I was not willing to suffer everything in order to come on a mission.  I always knew that rejection, to the extent that we face here on this mission would be a part of my experience.  As I began to experience the miracles that God performed around me at the time, I decided to serve a mission - it empowered me to be where I am today.

I face another year of the unexpected here on the mission.  However, with my willingness to suffer through whatever is laid before me, I know that I get to understand a little more of the compassion that Jesus Christ has for each one of us.  I know that He has suffered everything we have gone through in this life.  I know that He allows us to trust in Him in order to reach higher goals, even those that we never even knew we could accomplish.  It is always through our faith that our Heavenly Father blesses us.  I know that miracles are brought to pass according to our faith.  I know that He will always help us walk by faith when we do all that we can do.  I know that He is the head of this work and that we can experience the blessings He has in store for us when we really trust in Him!

I hope everyone has an amazing end to 2013!  2014 is a new beginning to put things in the past and to move forward!  I hope this New Year brings so many more blessings to everyone!

Merry Christmas 2013!

Hello everyone!!

I am so grateful to write a little note this week.  I am so excited to Skype my family on Wednesday!  I can't think of a better Christmas present than to just be able to talk with my family!  I miss them a ton and I continue to be grateful for them in every way that they've shaped my life.  I always see different things and knew that my Heavenly Father hand-picked my family for me.  He continues to do so with the new additions that we have to my amazing family!  Little niece and another on the way!  My in-law's - I can't remember what our family was like without them as part of our family.  I am filled with so much gratitude that I get to be part of an amazing group of people.

This past week I was brought to remembrance the struggles that I had several years ago.  As a kid, I had always dreamed that I would go to BYU and leave on a mission at the age of 19.  After never being accepted to attend BYU or the University of Illinois, many of my plans changed and sent me on a different path.  I was quite literally scrambling to find my way and my future.  My expectations on life had changed.  I faced many trials that I eventually was able to overcome with faith.

Today, I am an Illinois State University graduate with a Bachelor's in Finance.  Overall, I was denied from the University of Illinois 3 times and BYU 3 times.  The last option I really felt for myself was to attend Illinois State and I did so grudgingly.  Through an experience I had, there was a professor that ended up teaching a Leadership class where I was accepted.  The same teacher, Dr. Ringer, invited me to 'come to church'.  I was lost and tried to find my own way, but as this man invited me to come to church it changed my whole life.  I recognized that there is a loving Heavenly Father, through all my weaknesses, He still calls us to do His work.  I came to know from that specific experience, Heavenly Father knows us.  He knows what we will choose.  He knows how to teach us.  In my own learning, I learned that I was supposed to be called on this mission at this time.

There were many people who inspired me to become where I am.  Today, being my 11-month mark on my mission, I am able to recognize the blessings I've had in the past year.  Even more than just the year, He has blessed my entire life.  He hand-picked my family and allowed me to have the experiences that were necessary for me to grow.

My favorite investigator has come to know of this knowledge.  This past week she shared with us a story that she had.  When she was alone and in a dark place in her life, she turned to the only person she could, our Heavenly Father.  She prayed for help.  She said that He answered her prayers and told her how strong He was.  She explained Him as solid as the cement ground - immovable.  I then shared with her the scripture in Helaman 5:12 - quite possibly my favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon.

When we build our foundation on Christ, the greatest gift that God has given us, we are able to stand immovable.  This investigator has come to know that through her experience.  I have come to know that through my experiences.  I know that there is a Heavenly Father who knows us individually.  We are all imperfect, but He has given us the Savior Jesus Christ to help us overcome our imperfections and to be lifted to a high plane of thought and understanding.

I am so grateful this season for Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for my family and the foundation that they laid for me.  I know that Heavenly Father knows us all individually and that He only wants us to be as happy as we allow ourselves to be.  When we allow our lives to be filled with the grace of Jesus Christ, I know we can become happier than we've ever imagined.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!

Knowing Our Heavenly Father

Hello everyone!!

This week has been another special one!  Yesterday I was able to see the first baptism on my mission and to add to it - I was able to participate in the Confirmation!  I am grateful to know of the knowledge we have that Confirmation is performed by laying on of hands - as it is spoken of in the Bible.  It has been something that has strengthened my understanding since I have been on a mission.

This past week was pretty special with an experience that my companion and I were able to have.  There is a couple that we have been visiting once a week for the past few weeks - the husband is member (less-active) and the wife was once a foreign-exchange student in Utah.  They have, in their home, The Family Proclamation and The Living Christ documents framed and sitting on a book shelf.  The couple is very much into black-metal and going to concerts like that.  It has been so awesome to teach them!  They have felt that there are some people who don't entirely accept them.  Judging others is something that occurs, but of course is not something we are taught.  Of course we are all imperfect, but we all need to be patient towards one another.  My companion and I have really been able to connect with this couple - it's been absolutely incredible!

Since we have been meeting with them, we have been showing them our desire to get to know them as individuals and not just as people you go in and immediately ask to be baptized.  This does not work in Norway.  With this couple, we've been able to get to know them for who they are.  We eventually got into speaking about the Restoration and were able to discuss and share our own personal experiences about the Restoration.  When it came towards the end of the lesson, my companion, Elder Stookey, bore a powerful testimony about not being on a mission because it was expected of him but because he knew it was the right thing to do.  Among the things he sacrificed to be here - he is here because he knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet.  After he shared his testimony - the couple said they both felt goosebumps and thanked him for sharing that with them.  It was powerful.

I have been able to be a part of many powerful moments here on my mission.  It's been the greatest blessing.  I am so happy to feel the Spirit and bear testimony of it!  To add to it - one of our favorite investigators had her 40th birthday and told us that she had brought her Book of Mormon with her on her trip to Oslo.  She also said that she was grateful to come to know about the Mormon church!  This past week we asked her who her Heavenly Father is to her.  She, not coming from a religious background, told us that she knew Heavenly Father was a loving person.  He knows us and our struggles, and he knows what is best for us.  He doesn't force us to do anything that we don't want to do but that he allows us to choose for ourselves.  I wasn't entirely surprised by her answer, but I too have the same knowledge that she explained.  I know our Heavenly Father is person who loves us and knows us, He knows how to help us succeed, and He wants us to succeed.  He will not force us to do anything to choose His path, but He gives us the opportunity to choose for ourselves.

I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of such a Heavenly Father.  I wish everyone was able to come to know the same thing.  I know it is possible, but I also know it comes from our willingness to find it out for ourselves.  I hope everyone has a great week and desires to continue to find out truths for themselves!

It's almost Christmas where I get to Skype to my family!

There is Much Progress All Around

Today, is my brother Marc's Birthday!!  I just wanted to say I miss my family!  My brother Marc, will be turning 27 today and I am so grateful for him in my life!  He and his wife Kristen brought my little baby niece, Elise, into this world over a year ago.  I get to see the most amazing pictures of her every week.  I am so grateful for my brother and his family.  The example he is to me!  I am extremely blessed in every aspect of life!

This week was very rewarding!  It is such a blessing to be a missionary (it can be tough at times) but when you are blessed with miracles it makes it all worth.  We had only a few teaches this week, but what we did teach was great.  One teach was with a young Vietnamese woman.  We had not had contact with her in a while, but when we did reach her she was very positive.  She admires the work of the missionaries and enjoys learning about the gospel.  We encouraged her to continue to read from the Book of Mormon, so that she could come to find out that the church is true. We will be meeting with her this week.  As we got up from teaching her, we headed over to the 'gågate' (it is the city's main street where most of the shops are, so sort of like a strip mall down a main street, where we do most of our contacting).  As we were just walking up to the gågate, we stopped a woman to ask her if she's heard about the Book of Mormon.  I don't know exactly why, but my companion and I were especially smiling as we encountered this woman.  We usually smile, but this time it was so much she actually asked us why we were smiling so much.  We didn't really even know, but asked her if she had heard of the BoM.  She said she had the exact same book at her house!  We were definitely surprised, then she told us that she had found the book on a ledge while she was walking on the street.  She took the book home with her and it's now laying next to her Bible.  We were stunned!  Then we asked if we could meet her to explain the book, she said we could but not until September because she will be on vacation.  Amazing!  People are definitely being prepared to hear about this message.  Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to teach her, I could be leaving soon.

Another teach we had, we taught 3 elderly people that are around the age of 80.  We taught the Plan of Salvation to them and it was a well received lesson.  What a great experience!  One of the women had lived in the states, so I asked her where. She said, "a small city outside of Chicago - Dekalb, IL."  I was stunned. They even brought up Sycamore and I told them that that is where I had been set apart as a missionary!  It was pretty cool.  We will be teaching them again next week.

Another teach we had was with a mother and a daughter who had been on vacation for abot a month, so there was no time to meet!  The mother was actually the first person ever, where I had been present at a teach.  The daughter has more recently been involved in the lessons, but she seems to like what we share.  We started watching some of the Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration film, but only were able to get half-way through it.  We invited her to come to church and she accepted!  So she was at church with us yesterday!

Yesterday, church was pretty special as well.  Many of the youth went up to bear their testimonies about their experiences they have had going out with the missionaries on teaches.  The spirit was unique.  We have been striving to bring youth on teaches with us, even dedicated a Sunday to teach them a 'mini-MTC' and now they are all catching fire.  It's incredible to be a part of the work.  The best part, there is a girl, Mina, who will be going on a mission.  She will be putting her papers in today!  It's unbelievable to see how the Lord works.  She bore her testimony yesterday, and it is so apparent that the Lord prepares people to serve Him.  I know in my own experiences I was prepared in a special way.  Now, I get to be an instrument and see how He prepares others. I also had to get up and bear my testimony.  There is a possibility I could be moving from this area in a few weeks, so I had to get up and let the people know in this good ward - that I appreciated the examples that they were to me.  I also added that I am grateful to the missionaries who taught my mom, so that I can also be an instrument and a missionary to teach others who have been prepared as my mom.

This is a special experience to be here.  To be a part of miracles and to inspire others to receive their own as well.  I am grateful for my family, for the gospel, for scriptures, and for the many examples I have had throughout my life.  I am grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  I hope everyone has an excellent week!!

Our Apartment in Sandnes

Hello Everyone!!

This week has been a week of growth . . . constantly stretching.  I became the 'Senior Companion' of my area.  It's the same area I have been serving in, since the start.  This time, we have moved into an apartment in Sandnes in order to be closer to our area and to cut all the travel.  Our apartment is really nice, Norway always has modern interiors.  It has still been an adjustment!!  My companion is a really tall Norwegian guy, we speak much more Norwegian on the streets . . . and in church on Sunday, I practically understood all of the meetings!  I also have started "scarring my R's" (something the West does when speaking Norwegian, and my French has helped me to already have the "scarred R" - I just sound like a French kid trying to speak Norwegian!).  It's a lot of fun!

So this week, we contacted a lot more people on the streets.  I feel more comfortable doing it!  I have a lot more confidence than I originally had.  It has been special for me to experience.  Not all of our investigators met with us this week; made it a little difficult - but we still filled our time.  Saturday night, we were able to stay up late because of the celebration of the days being so long (Santa Hans).  We were able to hang out with the members and build relationships with the youth.  I am completely in love with Stavanger, the people, the ward - everything about it will make it a difficult day when I get transferred to a different area.  When I was in the MTC - I looked at the map, heard that the West scarred their R's, and that Stavanger was a pretty warm place - I said that this is where I wanted to serve . . . and here I've been!  This whole mission experience has helped me to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have faith in Christ, I know that God really is there for us.  He is our loving Heavenly Father.  He knows us as His individual children.  He knows our concerns, and He knows what we need most.  When we exercise Faith in Him, real faith, we will receive miracles.

I have received many miracles, and I still continue to.  I know that it is not by chance that these things come to be.  I know that He knows me, and that He wants to help me.  I just need to be willing and ready.  So here I am in Norway, as His servant.

A New Companion and My Norwegian Heritage

Hello everyone!

This week was my 23rd Birthday!  I appreciate all the letters and support from everyone.  Many Gratulere Med Dagen wishes and some amazing gifts.  It's made my 23rd birthday really special to me being able to spend it in Norway!!  I got an external hard drive from my parents and a 23rd birthday book of some great memories I've had here so far, with an awesome member family!

I continue to love this place more and more. We just had a moves call, where my trainer and I are finally parting ways.  I am continuing to serve in my area (Sandnes) and will be getting my new companion Eldste Torjussen - he is Norwegian! (Originally from Kristiansand).  He will be the District Leader and I will be serving as Senior Companion, but the awesome thing about it is that he will be coaching me - so I'll be learning so much from an experienced, Norwegian-native missionary.  I forgot to mention he is 6'7 and I am 5'7, so that foot difference is going to be an awesome dynamic as we serve together.  It's going to be pretty awesome talking to people on the street with a short French kid and a tall Norske kid.  I love it!

This past week I received a letter from my aunt Mary, who lives up in Minnesota ('the closest you get to Scandinavia without being in Scandinavia').  She included a short history of my ancestors who had originally come from Norway.  They were a humble people who grew up working and trying to provide for their families.  They were God-fearing people.  They believed Jesus Christ to be their Savior – through all their trials they learned to trust in Him.  I am grateful to be from this amazing heritage.  I am grateful to represent them back in the land of our heritage.

We've had some good teaches this past week with investigators, less-actives, and members.  We enjoyed a nice traditional Norwegian dinner . . . with fried fish! I have to say that that was my first time eating a traditional Norwegian fish dinner and it was really really good.

The best part of my week was probably yesterday at church when I was able to see all the seminary students being recognized during Sacrament.  It brought back a lot of memories for me.  I used to wake up at 5:50 every morning during high school to attend seminary at 6.  My school didn't actually start until 9:30 - but every morning from Freshman year to Senior year we were at church at 6.  It led to some of the best memories I have, driving some of the kids home and being able to spend time learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day.  It led me to realize that the calling of seminary teacher would be a big sacrifice, but also a large blessing by helping the youth understand the importance of the Gospel in their life.  At times you take it for granted - all that you have, but then you start to realize the importance of it.  This Gospel is important.  It's special.  As we make the necessary sacrifices to strengthen ourselves spiritually, we allow ourselves to become immovable.  I often wonder how I have accumulated so much happiness as a missionary - and I realize it is because I have been able to sacrifice my life, give up what I had - to trust that God knows the best path for me.  Trusting that my Heavenly Father can lead me on a path to unlimited potential and happiness - it's brought a strength that I've never felt before.  I love this work, I know we can all trust in our Father in Heaven - and that He will provide us with pure happiness. 

God Påske

Happy Easter to everyone!!

What an excellent time of the year to have the opportunity to be a missionary.  This week has been pretty amazing.  Norway as a whole is pretty dead during this week.  All the stores are closed for the week, kids are out of school, families are on vacation up in the mountains.  Everything is dead, but the missionaries try to do as much work as possible.  This whole week, we had tons of dinner appointments - which means we got to eat so much Norwegian and Phillippino food.  It was so good, but the work aspect was so great!  For many weeks we have had a problem with one of our investigators not getting to church.  Our prayers were answered by a family willing to pick our investigator up, along with her three children.  It was such blessing!  We also had a couple solid lessons this week, but the best part was the opportunity we have to represent Christ during the most special time - Easter.  It made me reflect on how great it is to be able to represent Him and His ministry on the Earth.  He did so much good, and as missionaries - we are able to represent and try to emulate that good.  People recognize it on the streets.  Almost every child you come in contact with gets a great big smile when you are around.  It's like they are afraid of other people, but when you come up to them representing the Light of Christ - they in turn light up too.  It's something I probably will never get to experience post-mission, but I have many months to enjoy.  Knocking on doors is pretty crazy too, some people want nothing to do with you - rightfully so.  I can't say that I would want some people knocking on my door, but I know that it is part of our work and that there are some people who are prepared for this Gospel in their lives.  It's a special thing to be a part of. 

The most eventful thing that happened this past week for me; I was assigned a talk to give yesterday afternoon.  Needless to say, I was a little nervous about it, but the talk seemed to flow for me.  I wrote it all out (på Norske) on Saturday and gave it on Sunday.  Unfortunately, the extent of my talk was only me reading a script.  I want so badly to just have bullet points and to expand on those points in Norwegian, but I know that I am making progress every day.  I am so grateful for it too.  I will attach a copy of my talk.  I am grateful to a fellow missionary, a Zone Leader I live with, Elder Abrams.  He edited it for me, which helped me not look so bad on the pulpit.  So, I am grateful for that!  But it was about a 7-minute talk, delivered.  I felt pretty weird that I was giving a talk on Easter Sunday in Norwegian, but many people in the Stavanger Ward came up to me and told me that my Norwegian is so good.  I wasn't too sure if they were just trying to make me feel good, but I was just glad to get it over with, and I'm feeling pretty good today!  The streets are still dead as stores are still closed, but tomorrow it's back to common life again.

I hope everyone had an excellent Easter!  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to write these blog posts.  I am grateful to my sister, Stephanie, for helping me keep this blog (she posts all the pictures and posts for me).  I am grateful for my many supporters, family, and friends.  I am grateful to be a missionary and to represent this work - I still don't feel like I deserve to represent so great a cause, but I am trying my best to live up to it.  Ultimately, I am grateful for the highs that only Jesus Christ's life and ministry can lift my imperfect self to be.

Have a great week!

Eldste Holden

Talk:

God påske brødre og søstre. Jeg heter Eldste Holden, jeg har vært her i Norge nesten 4 uker. Jeg kommer fra Rockford, Illinois - en by som er en time fra Chicago. Jeg håper at dere skal alle forstå meg, men hvis du kan ikke - bare vite at jeg er så takknemlig å være her i Norge med dere og at jeg håper å bli en god misjonær.

Før jeg kom på min misjon, studerte jeg finansier i et universitet i Illinois, hvor jeg avlegget forrige Mai. Jeg er her på en misjon, fordi vet jeg at hva jeg skal snakke om i dag er sant. Og jeg håper å hjelper andre folk vet at evangeliet er sann også.

Min emne i dag er om Johannes kapittel 14 verse 27... Der er så mange måter vi kan snakke om hvordan Jesus Kristus gir oss fred. Men i dag, ønsker jeg å snakke om pakter og de velsignelser som kommer fra å inngå og holde våre pakter.

Vår hensikt som misjonær er å <<Innby andre til å komme til Kristus ved å hjelpe dem å motta det gjengitte evangelium gjennom tro på Jesus Kristus og hans forsoning, omvendelse, dåp, å motta Den hellige ånds gave og holde ut til enden.>> Som de opprinelige tolv apostlers var fortalt av Jesus Kristus i Mattheus 28:19-20. 

Jeg ønsker særlig å snakke om dåp og templet pakter.

Disse to hendelsene krever oss å inngå til pakter med Gud gjennom ordinanser. Når vi inngår pakter med Gud, gir vi vår selv anledningen til å anvende Jesu Kristi barmhjertig og forsoningen. Vi viser vår villig, å bli Guds folk.

Første, når vi inngå pakten het dåp - lover vi Gud at vi alltid har hans navn med oss, og at vi vil alltid representere han i det vi gjøre. Dette er noen ganger mest vanskelig, men når vi oppfyller våre lofter er vi lovet i tredje Nephi 11:33. Når vi blir døpt, blir vi født på nytt og blir Guds folk. Det samme skjer når vi delta i nadverden, vi fornye vår dåpspakt.

Etter dåp, her vi en andre anledning og inngå en pakt med Gud. Det er min favoritt emne å snakke om og det er templet. Det mest fredfulle sted på jorden er templet. I templet, finnes Herrens Ånden, og vi kan inngå mer pakter med Gud, og hjelp andre folk inngå pakter også. Som et begavet medlem av kirken, er vi løvet mange velsignelser, og vi kan lese om de i Lære og Pakter kapittel 109. Vi kan begynne i vers 22 <<dine tjenere kan gå ut av dette hus væpnet med din kraft, og at ditt navn kan være hos dem og din herlighet være rundt om dem og dine engler våke over dem.>> I verse 25 <<Intet våpen som blir laget mod dem, skal ha fremgang. Og verse 26 <<Intet ugudelig forbund skal ha makt til å oppstå og få overhånd over ditt folk som ditt navn skal hvile over i dette hus.>>

Der er mange stor velsignelser som er lovet oss som begavete medlemmer. Og det er hvorfor vi ønsker å inngå pakter med Gud i templet. Jeg innbyr alle til å lese Kapittel 109 og overveie de store velsignelser som vi kan ta som begavete medlemmer.

Jesus Kristus fortalte oss i Lære og Pakter 29:34, <<for meg er alle ting åndelige, og aldri har jeg noen gang gitt dere en lov som var timelig.>>

Med våre andelige pakter vi har inngått med Gud, gir han oss anledningen å bli <<Væpnet med [Hans] kraft...og [så skal Hans] engler våke over [oss].>>

Ingenting har gitt meg mer fred enn mine forholt med Gud og Jesus Kristus. De har løftet meg opp til høyere høyder og har lærte meg så mye om denne verden. Jeg vet at når vi blir Guds pakte barn, skal vi se mirakler rundt oss. Jeg har aldri sett mer mirakler i mitt liv enn det jeg har sett i disse siste 8 måneder i mitt liv og jeg vet at det er fordi jeg har inngått til, jeg har utførte tro på Jesus Kristus, og nå er jeg her i Norge å vitne mange mirakler til.

Det er min bønn at vi kan alltid huske Jesu Kristi forsoning, som gjøre oss i stand til å kunne inngå pakter med Gud, slik at vi alltid kan representere han. 

Disse ting jeg sier, i Jesu Kristi navn. Amen. 

Over the (MTC) Hump

I am officially over the hump at the MTC.  I am a little grateful for it too.  The MTC is getting more and more packed, which makes it difficult to get a seat in the Sunday and Tuesday Night Devotionals (the best part of being here).  We have some excellent firesides which motivate me to get out into the field and do some work.  I am getting more excited to get to my first area.  I am making it a goal of mine to introduce myself on my first Sunday in my first area, regardless of how much I humiliate myself.  It'll just be the right way to start off the official mission part.  Here at the MTC, my district is very solid.  We are all getting really excited to get to Norway.  We have 3 different teachers who tell us some pretty amazing stories about their Norway experiences.  They say prepare to eat a lot of hot dogs because that is what we'll be eating tons of.  Apparently missionaries have had bad experiences with fish so members rarely are fed that, but I will still have some experiences.  I recently also found out that there are a lot of African Refugees in Norway.  This is quite exciting for me (I thought I was going to be called to a French speaking, African country).  Except I have been called to "the best country in the world" which I am beginning to believe.  The pictures may have to speak for me.  We continue to learn more about the people and we met a sister who is from Norway here at the MTC, she is serving in Greece.  She told us about her hometown and if my companion or myself are called to that area she will have a couple people we can teach.  It is exciting times to be a missionary as so many people are joining us from everywhere for the common goal.  It's a great thing to be a part of and a complete honor to wear this badge.

A little Norwegian to share... Jeg heter Eldste Holden, jeg kommer fra Illinois, jeg er en misjonaerer fra Jesu Kristi Kirke Av Siste Dagers Hellige.  

I hope all is well everywhere else! Thank you to my parents and Stephanie for the Valentine's Day gifts. Happy Valentine's Day to all, best one yet! Enjoy the pictures!