The Meaning of Baptism and Confirmation

Hello everyone!!

So grateful to have another successful week!  This past week we held two Zone Leader training meetings.  One of them was in Bergen and the second in Stavanger!  All of the missionaries from Kristiansand, Arendal, and Haugesund came to the Stavanger meeting.  Both meetings were pretty solid - I'd have to say the Bergen meeting was best, but it went well!  It was pretty stressful at the start of the week, because I knew I was primarily responsible to be in charge of the meeting!  So if it was unsuccessful, of course it was because of me!  We talked about baptism, and the covenant that we make at baptism.  I am just grateful to have learned about that covenant and what we really enter into when we are baptized.

The baptismal covenant is not just a act of getting dunked in the water and showing God that we will perform an ordinance.  Really, there are promises that we make.  We promise to keep commandments, to represent Jesus Christ, and to serve Him always.  When we offer these things, we are blessed tremendously with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a remission of sins, and the opportunity to be 'born again'!  All of these blessings have been incredible to me!  I really must say that I didn't understand that covenant at first, but after I have experienced what I have since being here - I am so glad I entered into that covenant!

After the success of both meetings, we found many prospects on the streets and have set up appointments for the future.  Some of our investigators have been doing very well - we even had an activity at the church put on by our Ward Mission Leader.  It was a success!  The strives to make the ward and missionary work together has also been quite successful!

My approach to this whole work is that I am trying to be as real as I can.  I try to show people through smiling when I contact them - how grateful I am to have this gospel.  It is the most real thing that I've ever experienced.  Two young guys on the street asked what if it all wasn't true.  I responded, "Well, then I've wasted away a lot of good time to grow my skills and abilities." But quickly stated, "I know it's not false."  The things I have experienced in life, I know that there is no other in receiving a fullness of joy but by following the commandments that God lays for us!

I hope everyone has a great week of growth and happiness!  I am so grateful for all the people in my life that have helped me to be where I am and who I am!

Growth Among Our Investigators

Hello Everyone!

What an incredible week it has been!  It has been a little stressful to be honest.  I've received a new companion, Elder Hill.  He is from Virginia and has been on his mission for 9-months.  It is the first time I will be serving with another Zone Leader.  We have been expected to continue to build up the younger missionaries for the past several months - and now to receive a more experienced missionary (although 9-months is not ALL that experienced!) is quite different when we teach people!

As for the week - miracles have been happening here!  There was a woman that called the bishop here and told him she was interesting in learning about the gospel.  When the sisters went to teach her, she mentioned that she was praying to find out which church was God's church and felt she got an answer through many different experiences with the LDS church in her life.  It'll be exciting to see what happens!  The following day, the bishop was called by a 23-year old kid who also told him that he was interested in learning!

Then on Sunday, as one of our investigators was at church - she told us she had received an answer that the Book of Mormon was true! (She comes from a non-religious background - always believing that there was something but now comes to be in the church and feel of the Spirit!)  She told us all of this - of course while the bishop was standing right with us.  He's been able to see some of the fruits of our hard work in the area pay off!

Our zone as a whole has been absolutely incredible.  Many answered prayers have come lately.  It's incredible to see and know the hand of the Lord in the work.  It's been very rewarding to be part of all of this!  It feels like we actually make a difference - the Lord is with us the whole way and we just need to patiently keep working hard and continue being examples!

This upcoming week we have two meetings that we will be holding.  One is in Bergen and one will be in Stavanger.  They are Zone Leader Training Meetings - I just hope that they are successful!  The Lord is with us this whole way!  I literally feel transformed throughout this whole process.  I have become more deeply converted in knowing that He answers my prayers.  There is no other experience I could have gone through to know of Him better.  I am grateful every day that I've made the decision to serve... it's never too late!

I hope everyone has an excellent week!

Desires of Our Hearts, Faith, and The Power of Prayer

Hello Everyone!

It's never a dull moment to be a missionary!  I'll first start by saying we received 'move calls' this past Sunday.   The most excellent news is that I will only be assuming the role of Zone Leader!  The missionaries have been sufficiently trained enough that they can now become District Leaders.  With many other roles, I now get to only serve as Zone Leader!  I will still be serving in Stavanger, this is practically my home now!  I absolutely love this place and really don't have a desire to be moved.  I just want to continue to grind extremely hard here!!

As for the past week, on Thursday we had another Missionary Leadership Council in Oslo.  We all came together and received encouragement and direction for the mission at-large.  It's always so fun to discuss it all on the larger scale!  Sister Evans shared a very powerful spiritual message about faith.  It brought me to feeling the Spirit so powerfully in this setting, because I feel that what she has spoken of is truth.  She mentioned how faith is having full confidence in God, acting on that faith, and doing everything necessary in order for us to align ourselves with God's will.  As I was pondering the deepest things that I desire - I realized that it is the happiness of my family.  Before my mission, I knew that as I acted in serving a mission He would provide for my family - and He has.  I was overcome with so much emotion knowing that our Heavenly Father is so close to us and knows our very desires.

The next day, we traveled to Kristiansand to go on splits with a couple missionaries.  It was an excellent time there!  There, we met with a woman who was originally from the states.  As we talked with her, it was so amazing to just be part of the Gospel - as instruments in inspiring and helping others.  At the conclusion of the meeting, she mentioned that she saw me as 'a rock' and that it was refreshing to see someone take these things so seriously.  I told her that I can be really random at times, but when it comes to these things it's the most real thing I've ever come to know in my life.

The following day, we met with the Filipino family.  We shared the Plan of Salvation with them and they were expressing how they thought it could be true.  We began bearing testimony of prayer.  I felt as though I was presenting a quality Preach My Gospel lesson and that the Spirit was being felt by this Icelandic man (who is also a part of this family).  We invited him to pray and after he had mentioned several times that he did not know how to pray.  After explaining to him how, I testified to him that there is nothing more powerful for a son than to see his father pray.  At nights I would see my dad pray for long periods of time - sometimes falling asleep.  I told him that he could show his son no greater example - and he prayed!

It's unreal to see the way the gospel moves individuals - including myself.  Every single day it applies to the things we do.  It's so powerful to be a part of this work and to see people's lives changing.  As subtle as it is, we begin moving mountains.  I know that as we act on faith, the most challenging things help bring us closer to our Creator and that He helps us to know how powerful He is when we turn to Him.  As Elder D. Todd Christofferson has said, "Often times our experience is a result of our faith." 

I hope everyone has an excellent week!

My 1-Year Mission Mark

Hello everyone!!

This week I got a little sick one morning.  I received a priesthood blessing and did quite fine though!  We had another impressive week - still continuing to find the gems out here in Norway!

As for my home, I received a letter about my brother receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood this past Sunday.  As my mom wrote me, she explained that it as my '1-year gift' and the news of it continues to bring me to tears.  I am so grateful for the love our Heavenly Father has for us and how He can use us and shape us into special instruments.  I am so grateful for my family and the examples we get to be to one another.

On Thursday, I was officially able to say that I've been on a mission for a year!  Crazy to accomplish something like this!  On my year day, I was able to receive a package from my homeward, and a couple letters as well!  It felt like it was really my birthday on my year mark!  I was just grateful to see that I've been able to work so hard over the past year.  It's been incredible growth!!

In the past week, we had some pretty good experiences.  We have 3 guys from Romania that we have been teaching the gospel and the basics of the Norwegian language to.  These guys have shown up to all the activities, church, and have even met with us.  They are incredible guys!  They told me that they don't think it is a coincidence that we met.  Interestingly enough, the first time that I contacted them with my former companion - one of them rejected me and continued to walk on.  Another one of them stopped to talk and told me that when he first met me he observed me and saw that I was a very open-minded guy.  He felt like he could talk to me.  Who would have thought that someone who has faith in something is open-minded!?  Especially a missionary for that matter!

On the flipside - we also were on our way home this past week when a man walked up to my companion and began to speak to him.  The guy was a little drunk and proceeded to walk with us.  He was trying to argue with us as to how the world could be created by a God and different things about nature.  Of course, we just listened to him ramble on and as we parted ways, I asked him if he would like a card.  He started shouting profanities at us while a group of young kids on the other side of the street starting laughing.  At that moment, I immediately thought of the Savior and everything He had to endure.  I was so grateful that I could find myself in that situation being an example of a believer.  We may have to endure some uncomfortable situations, but never as uncomfortable as what the Lord went through.

He was a very real man that lived on this Earth.  I am given strength every day in my thoughts and prayers of Him.  I am so grateful I can wear a badge that bears His name, as well as my own.  It is very empowering to be a Disciple of Christ.  Regardless of what we have to endure, it is always completely worth it!

I hope everyone has an extremely good week!

Approaching My 1-Year Mark

What a week it was!!

It started off that we planned for a Zone Leader Training Meeting that we shared in Bergen and Stavanger.  The meeting in Bergen was on Wednesday, and we woke up at 4:15 to get ready and catch a plane.  The meeting was a success and we were able to go on splits in the city for the rest of the night.  It was quite a fun experience to be in Bergen and teach with the missionaries there!  One of the elders, Elder Clark, was with me in the MTC.  We are approaching our 1-year mark so it was quite fun to talk about how much we've grown in the past year!

The next morning we woke up at about 5:30 to catch another flight home.  We were to hold the same meeting in Stavanger the next day.  It's a crazy life as a missionary - taking flights really early, getting right on track with the schedule, and then giving some more meetings!  They were some long days and by the end of it, I was so exhausted!  But the Lord was with us the whole way.  The Spirit during the meetings was so present.  We were able to discuss how we are going to reach the goal of 157 baptisms in Norway.  We know that it's only going to come through miracles.  Sister Evans, the mission president's wife, shared a scripture Alma 26:12 with the missionaries in the MTC when they were there.  In order for us to reach our 157 baptisms, we're going to have to witness many mighty miracles.  I felt the Spirit every time I though about that - I am convinced that we are going to achieve difficult things in this country!

To add to that, we were able to teach some really awesome lessons this week!  I feel that the Lord has blessed me with the world's best investigators.  This week, I was able to meet a young man from Congo.  I was able to share an amazing story about the missionary work that has been occurring in my hometown Rockford, Illinois.  It all began with a man that had an impression that he needed to go to church.  So, he went outside and stopped the first people he saw who looked like they were going to church!  That's how the Lord furthers His work.  It is through spiritual promptings and impressions.  I know that they are real and that that story is one of the main reasons I am here as a missionary right now.

The best story from this past week came when my companion and I were knocking to find familes.  We know that the mighty miracles are going to have to come in the form of families if we are to reach such a goal!  So, we began knocking and finding potentials this way.  When we knocked on one door the woman said we could come back at 8 PM on any night.  On Saturday, we decided to try-back in the afternoon and she told us to come back at 8 PM that night.  So, as the night was approaching, I gave a baptismal interview at 6.  Just after (due to a Ward Conference) many stake leaders were present at the building.  Two of the leaders were in the basement looking to go out with the missionaries.  Knowing I did not have any solid appointments, just a try-back at 8, I jumped at the opportunity knowing the Lord would bless us.  We went walking towards the area with this man.  He was so solid and from the Skien area in Norway.  He served his mission in Scotland, and we took him knocking on doors.  He was very impressive when he actually jumped in on the fun!  After a few doors, we decided to head to the try-back's home.  This Filipino family let us in straightway and we sat down with 5 people total to hear our gospel message.  We began to teach about the gospel and the message of the Restoration of the Gospel through the prophet, Joseph Smith.  By the end of the teach, we ended up giving them a couple Book of Mormons and were able to get a return appointment.  Five investigators in one night!  All with the help of this incredible man from the stake!  It was an amazing experience to be part of this gospel discussion, the people were unbelievably spiritual and solid!

The next day was Ward Conference.  The last Ward Conference I had been to in Stavanger, was my first week in the land!!  Shows you how long I have been in this area!  I love this place like nothing else though.  It's a very special place to me!  This week I will be hitting my 1-year mark as a missionary.  Bittersweet but it's been the absolute best experience of my life!  I've never loved a place more than this place - Stavanger.  I've never grown more in a year than I have as a missionary.  To add to it, I know a different language!  I can't believe what can happen to someone when they put their trust and step forward in faith to follow the Lord!  I love everything about this experience!

I hope everyone has an excellent week!!

Knowing That Heavenly Father is Our Loving Heavenly Father

Hello everyone!

This week was my first full week with my companion Elder Lane!  He is really fun to be around - extremely entertaining.  He gets really pumped when we start talking about how we're going to find families!  I really know that we're going to find some families here in Norway who are ready to hear the gospel.

This week was pretty special.  We met with one of my favorite investigators - had about a 2-hour teach about the Plan of Salvation.  We invited her to pray about it.  She came to church on Sunday and the first thing she told me was, "I got an answer from Heavenly Father."  I was so amazed!  She told me some more things that were so amazing to hear about in her life.  It's been amazing to grow with her and see the glow that she has when she walks in the church.  Everyone can see it!

This past week, we went to Oslo for a leadership council with others from the mission.  It was so cool to feel the Spirit and be around the other missionaries.  There were many concerns and thoughts I had going into the meeting.  I felt the Spirit so strongly and had many things that I felt were revelation on how to take the mission and our area forward.  We have some incredible missionaries serving here in Stavanger right now.  There is a quite a bit going on and we just need to keep grinding at it, this is definitely the Lord's work!

This morning, we had the opportunity to join with the youth at Early Morning Seminary starting at 6:30.  We were asked to come and play the Sons of Mosiah (people from the Book of Mormon).  They were once 'the vilest of sinners' and were converted after an incredible series of events.  We 4 elders came to the class and acted like we were the Sons of Mosiah. We had little name tags to hold up and answered a couple questions about our missions.  I was so grateful to be able to be there this morning.  The youth kept asking, "Why did you wake up so early for this?"  The reason being, is we know how important it is for them to really take what they read seriously.  The Book of Mormon has the potential to change anyone's life.  It is only based on their willingness to receive answers and to accept the counsel they receive as they read that book.  I know it is not a huge sacrifice to be participating in this work when you feel the million little blessings you receive while here.

I know how important this work is.  It's important for every single person that is associated in the process.  Even when people, "nei takk" us, I am able to wish them a good day!  The only thing I want anyone to come to know is this knowledge that Heavenly Father is our loving Heavenly Father.  He knows us personally and He just wants us to be happy and successful.  We just need to trust in Him!

I hope everyone has an excellent week!

Back to the Grind

This week was so great to get back into the swing of missionary work!  It was pretty packed with good things.  One of our investigators said she had been smoke-free for 2 days before we met with her!  Another one of our investigators has been reading on the church's website and loving everything she reads.  She told us that she used to be afraid of the gospel and the Bible and everything but now since we have helped her feel the love of the gospel and meet so many great people - she looks forward with hope!  She is such an amazing person and has the greatest smile.  She says it might take her 6 months to 2 years to join the church, she really doesn't know, but I told her I really didn't care how long it took her.  She is reading the Book of Mormon, she is coming to church, she is reading things about Joseph Smith, and you can see the light of the gospel changing her life!  It's unbelievable how it works.

I received a new companion this week, Elder Lane.  He is a young guy from Arizona.  Very good kid and pretty entertaining!  Yesterday he bore his testimony in church and said, "Jeg elsker store medlemmer" which in English translates to "I love big members" - he had a good laugh afterwards! He's a very awesome guy and really willing to work.

My old companion was moved up to Trondheim to be companions with my old MTC companion, Elder Skinner.  Elder Skinner is a beast of a missionary and is tearing it up in Trondheim right now.  I was hoping he was going to be my companion a couple transfers ago.  Hopefully someday we'll be joined up and get to tear up a city together!

As for my old companion Elder Stookey, he was an awesome companion.  We were able to experience a ton of different miracles and amazing opportunities!  It was so much fun to serve with him and as I called him the night he moved to Trondheim - one of the things he said to me was, "Keep changing kids' lives."  It was the best thing I could have heard.

The west zone is going to explode soon.  Our district is really starting to produce, as we had 5 investigators in church and more visitors!  It's been an incredible ride to see the progression of this work in this area and throughout Norway.  Someday soon this place will be pumping out some impressive miracles!  They are already starting to flow and I'm so grateful to be part of it!

I know that faith is something that is real.  When we exercise it with faith in Jesus Christ and God, we can experience many miracles.  I am approaching 1 year as a missionary and I have never felt more refined and grateful for any other thing in my life.  I know this is the best use of time any individual can spend - bringing about happiness for our brothers and sisters.  I love this work and hope that everyone gets to experience the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us!  I hope everyone gets to experience some of that light this week!