The Importance of Youth

Hi everyone!! 

I am sorry that this week will have a shortage of responses to my e-mails, but we just got done hiking Preikestolen again here in Stavanger!  What a beautiful country I serve in . . . it is completely unbelievable to be here!  Today was an unbelievable day and it was so perfect to hike to the top.  Hopefully, the pictures do a little justice to what we just experienced.  We were able to hike with the youth in the ward which is so great.  I love the relationships we have built with the youth here in Stavanger.  The youth are so important - so unique and amazing.  I feel like they are the younger siblings that I have never had.  I get to serve them, encourage them, and sometimes teach.  Yesterday at church, we held a 'mini-MTC' for the first 2 hours of church.  We got to explain to the youth that they are highly valued by us when they come on splits.  Something that the mission is trying to encourage very much is having the youth on teaches.  This builds relationships, the Spirit, and our teacher skills as missionaries.  It is a complete win-win-win.  The experience that we had was special.  We got to ask the youth to share their simple testimony on prayer.  They did so, which brought about a special spirit in the gym.  It was then followed up by a fast-and-testimony meeting which made for an excellent Sunday.

This past week, we had some great teaches.  There was a man that we taught whose home was filthy.  We walked in and you could just sense the disconnect this man was experiencing.  One of the first things he told us was, "I drink, and drink, and drink because there is an emptiness that I have."  The gospel fills that.  I know it.  It was such a great privilege to sit and talk with this man who you could just envision experiencing a change in his life that would allow him to fill that void.  The gospel does that.  The Book of Mormon does that.  We left him with that book and our testimonies.  He said, "I know you guys don't just go around and tell about a fairy tale and Joseph Smith."  He is right.  It isn't a fairy tale.  It happened. Joseph Smith really did pray to Heavenly Father to find out truth, and because Heavenly Father loves him - He visited Joseph.  He answered his question and gave him truth that we can share with the world.  The experience that we have as missionaries, to share this gospel and to build up wards - is unbelievable!  I am grateful every day to be a missionary and I hope that everyone shares in the experience to share this gospel with their friends in order to further the work.

I thank you all for the support you have given me thus far.  I have needed it and I am so grateful to wear the badge that I do, and represent who I do.  This work is real and it can touch the lives of many if we open our mouths.

I Love This Country!

Hello everyone!!

I am so excited to write this week.  I have very little time to write because Norway has been in full swing as of late.  Last Monday, I was unable to write an update because we had our P-Day on May 17th.  Here in Norway, May 17th is like the 4th of July, but in my opinion even better!  The Norwegians dress up in bunads, along with dressing their children up, and there are awesome parades.  I am completely in love with this country!  They had parades where the children in schools were going down the streets, a parade for graduating seniors, and a parade for various clubs that are offered here in Norway.  It was so amazing to see and even more fun to do our cheer!  We met up with the members here and did a lot of yelling (I ended up losing my voice a little bit).  I was having way too much fun that day - then we headed out to a dinner with a family from the ward.  So many great people here who live in Stavanger, Norway.  I love this place very much and wish I could stay forever.  The work was hard for the week and a half we were doing straight, but the past several days have more than made up for it.

Today, we hiked Prekestolen.  The pictures will explain how amazing that was.  We had a large group of missionaries and ward members (about 16 of us) that went up to the top.  It was quite a hike, it took about an hour and a half to get up.  There was a nice rain going through, so it felt so good and refreshing.  We got to the top, about a 600+ meter drop and I hung my feet off the side!  I was so scared!! However, it was by far the best day I've had here in Norway.  To add to it, we drove back through the country (as the sun was shining) and the pictures are the product of this amazing day.  I love this place, I love the people (I was so happy watching all the Norwegians show their pride for their country), and I love being a missionary here.  I have had many amazing experiences, many different thoughts as to where I want to take my life.  Lately, I have been considering living out here in Europe and being an active participant in helping the church grow.  Especially - as there are new temples underway (Rome, Paris) - some of my favorite places.  My ultimate goal here as a missionary is to get a temple here in Norway.  That will be my most favorite accomplishment!

I hope everyone is doing well! I am sorry that I will not be able to respond to many this week, I have printed off your letters and will be reading them! I love you all and am very grateful for this opportunity! I hope everyone is doing well!

Eldste Holden

Post Conference: April 2013

What a week it has been!  I am continuing to grow as an individual, a disciple of Christ, and as a missionary.  There is absolutely nothing more fulfilling than 5-sessions of General Conference as a missionary.  For those of you who don't know what General Conference is; every 6 months our Church's General Authorities (Prophet and Apostles) assemble in 5 different 2-hour sessions of conferences where they give us insight, instruction, and promised blessings.  Each General Conference-- leading up to this particular one, I have felt that I needed to serve a 2-year mission for my church.  Most importantly to Jesus Christ, because of the many blessings he has given me and my family over my short 22-year life.  I was so engaged, soaked in every word, and felt so inspired to be the best all-around person I can be.  For those of you wondering, we were able to listen to it in English.  We watched the First Session here in Stavanger at 6 PM - our time.  The next day, we started with Priesthood Session at 11.  Sunday Afternoon Session at 2, then the regular time Sunday Morning at 6 and Sunday Night at 10 (yes, we did stay up until 12 on our mission! Not rule breaking, just listening to the words of our prophets.)  I have never been more fulfilled in my life listening to the words of men who have truly been called of God to fulfill a role in an inconsistent society.  It's been a unique experience listening to General Conference as a missionary.  I wish that everyone were to have the same experience and experience the same joy as Jesus Christ's Gospel has to offer.

These types of feelings I was able to share with some of the investigators that we have been teaching.  It is so fulfilling to witness to strangers and investigators; I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and I know that this Gospel can bring peace during every trial that life puts us through.

We had some pretty solid door-knocking days.  Some nice conversations and experiences at people's doorsteps - some baptismal dates accepted and witnesses that Heavenly Father is looking over us.  I will share an example of this.  Today is our P-Day, we decided to help a family's daughter and husband move to a new house.  This family is one who I have spent some time with and have a great appreciation for, although there is my language barrier - I love them greatly.  We helped the daughter move, successfully - eventually they drove us to a nearby mountain (where most of my pictures are from) and we climbed to the top.  As we got to the top, there was an amazing view all around us - it is the highest point in the area we are serving. When we went down from the top, my companion and I had to run down - because it was getting close to the time that we had to get back to our apartment, shower, and head out to a dinner where a family from the ward was hosting one of our investigators for FHE (another blessing).  As we were running down the hill and came to a couple, they asked my companion where we were from.  When the couple found out I was from Chicago, IL we had a great conversation the rest of the way down.  He ended up being a Lutheran pastor - and he and his wife had lived in Chicago for 5.5 years.  As we got to the parking lot of where we were dropped off, my companion and I still had a long way to go.  The couple found this out, and offered to give us a ride to the bus station.  We got to the bus station quickly - got home quickly - showered quickly - left our apartment to head back to our appointment (ran into a couple we have been teaching as investigators, talked to them long enough to remind them to read the Book of Mormon) then we got to our FHE/dinner appointment at 5 o'clock, exactly the time we had planned for it.  I tell this story only to offer examples of how the Lord works.  It may be a confusing story, but read through it - and find how the Lord's work is not about oneself, but about how he wants us to be as successful as possible; as long as we are willing to put forth the work. 

Just this week I read the words of Ammon to his brothers in Alma 26.  These words mean more to me now than at any other time in my life:

Alma 26:11-12  11 ''...I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I look forward to the miracles that I will witness on my mission.  I look forward to the blessings my family will receive.  I look forward to changing the lives of many - because I desire to help bring others happiness.

I am grateful for this experience; to be a missionary and to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It is real, the blessings of Christ exist in it and I hope to bring the people of Norway nearer to it.  I hope everyone has an excellent week.  I thank you all for your support and I love you all very much!

Eldste Holden

Norwegians Cherish Their Families

Hello all!!

This week has flown by!  I am beginning to feel even more comfortable here in Norway and slowly getting over the effects of jet lag, still.  Crazy - but 3 weeks ago from today I was sitting on a plane flying out here to Norway!  I am here now and still can't speak the language, but am constantly improving and getting a better ear for it.  The best part is, we have been teaching many lessons. Possibly why it feels like the time just flies by.  Just this past Tuesday, I was able to go up to Haugesund where I was on splits with District Leader Elder Johnson.  I learned a ton from him, rode my first ferry in Norway, saw a beautiful city, and got involved in helping with the work up there.  The next day we had a little adventure where I almost forgot all my books and other things at the apartment - so I missed my return ferry and took a bus home instead.  It was a fun adventure, but I ended up getting back into Stavanger around 9:30 in time to get ready for the next day.

We have been working hard in Sandnes, many appointments, and we've been trying to contact and knock with a 'Families Can Be Together Forever Approach' and it is quite successful.  Norwegians love their families and it is very apparent with the reactions we get.  We had an excellent conversation with a woman I smiled and waved to while she was walking her dog, and she just wanted to start talking with us.  It's an excellent opportunity to be a missionary - many people recognize the good we are trying to serve the world.  It inspires hope and it is so great to be on the right side of the work.  I have to say that I really do love my calling and that being called to Norway was just the icing on the cake, essentially. 

Today, we had a good time at the Oil Museum here in Stavanger, I am attaching many pictures from my experience.  I hope you all enjoy!  I am very grateful for all the positive support and responses that I get from friends and family back home.  You are all truly a blessing to me and I know and feel your love!  I'm so grateful to be able to represent the church and my family!  I hope you all have an excellent week!

Eldste Holden

Our Zone at a recent Zone Conference

Tribute to Harald Hardrada - King of Norway