Committing Others to Baptism and My Upcoming Transfer to Drammen

Hello everyone!

This past week we had a couple Zone Leader Training meetings, where we focused on language study and how we can improve on our language skills as a whole.  We had some pretty great learning experiences, but the one thing I'd like to focus on most is my splits that I had in Bergen.

I got to serve with Elder Badger in Bergen on Tuesday night and all through Wednesday.  Tuesday morning, our President called me and told me that we needed to double the baptismal dates in our zone.  At the end of the day, Elder Badger and I were discussing a lot of the mission and many different things regarding how we could improve.  It was quite the amazing talk we had, because throughout the week it was almost like it all unfolded for us.

The next day, in companionship study, we began focusing on inviting everyone we taught that day to be baptized.  I can say that throughout the day, we didn't invite everyone but we had the goal to fulfill the work.  However, at times we showed our faith by asking different individuals.  When we would ask people, it was like we were so confident that God answers prayers and that we knew that He could answer anyone's prayers by a certain date.

We ended the day by setting a date with one man.  However, on the days that followed, we met with a woman who was so set that she was not going to join our church.  As we sat and just listened to what she had to say, we realized that we agreed with many of the things that she expressed.  By the end of the teach, she was much more open and the Spirit was present.  We asked a member to pray and immediately after, there were tears in her eyes and she asked if he really meant what he said in his prayer.

It was incredible to see how the Spirit had touched that woman.  She was able to see that we are really just down to earth people.  We listen to what people have to say and we share with them the truths that God reveals to man.  We encourage people to ask questions and to really seek truth.  One must take it up with God to find out if what we are saying is true.  It requires action.

The act of my faith is that I am here serving a mission for my Heavenly Father's children.  By acting on what I believe, He has blessed me in the most countless opportunities I could not fill a weekly post with.  He is involved in every single detail of my life.

I will be moving to Drammen this week to experience a new opportunity, but the people I have met here in Stavanger are like my family - my Norwegian family.  I will miss them terribly after serving here for 45+ weeks, but I am looking forward to my future!  My sister's baby is absolutely amazing - and my whole family is beaming with happiness about it.  I know God takes care of those who obey His commandments.  They are there to protect us.

I hope everyone has an incredible week!

Heavenly Father's Blessings and the Birth of My New Niece

Hello everyone!!

What an incredible week it has been!  First, I just want to start by saying that my new baby niece - Claire Evelyn Dodson was born yesterday!!  What a miracle she is to my family!  I am so grateful to know of the blessings that prayer and sacrifice bring about!  Before my mission, I really did envision my family in a certain way and felt it could only be accomplished through exercising our faith.  Our Heavenly Father has blessed us tremendously and continues to do so!  I am extremely grateful!

This past Wednesday, we had our Missionary Leadership Council in Oslo.  It was great once again to come together as a mission and discuss how we can improve as a whole.  It's so nice to always be improving, setting goals, and making things happen.  Our Mission President shared a spiritual thought this past week from the talk that Elder Holland gave on Missionary Work and the Atonement.  In the talk - there is a line that says, "It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane.  Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."  As my president said this, I felt the Spirit so strongly and was so grateful for the many things that I'd had to go through in order to become more refined.  I know as we continue to work hard, there are even more people who are prepared to hear this very special message we have to share!

We then went to Arendal on Thursday - where it was a rather difficult day, but I had the feeling that I knew that I didn't care what people thought of me - walking around, wearing a badge, stopping people on the street.  I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing - and enjoying it, regardless of the outcome!  I felt more converted through the process.  It really doesn't matter what the world thinks, but what I know to be true.  I know Heavenly Father knows us individually - and it's a special thing to have that knowledge!

On Saturday, we had an amazing opportunity to be part of a service project where we were helping a member move her business into a shop.  We were putting tape up in a room to prep for painting. Another missionary and I were talking with a woman who was helping. She was pretty excited we could speak Norwegian and as she asked why we were here, we were able to share the gospel with her in a very natural way.  She was amazed with the job that we do here and around the world.  She told us, "This is going to sound weird, but there is a glow about you guys." It was really special to hear her say that and we were able to say that we get to serve Heavenly Father's children.  She was so proud of what we do.  We then gave her a mormon.org card - planting seeds of faith!

It was a very special week!  It just continues to get better and better as we strive to improve.  There was also a baptism here that the sisters had this past Sunday.  The young man 'referred' himself to learn about the gospel.  On Sunday, he brought his friend to church whom I sat next to and was able to expand on some of the gospel to him.  I shared with him about the Sacrament, the Holy Ghost, and Baptism - we ended up teaching him after church, as the newly baptized member was along on the teach!  It really is fun to share the gospel!

Some thoughts I have had here recently - I know my parents' example of sharing the gospel is the reason why I am here today.  When I saw the joy and excitement that comes from sharing the gospel, it became contagious.  It's like a fire that you want to share with everyone else.  When I saw many people from the Congo becoming interested in learning about the Restoration of the Gospel, I knew it was so important for me to also take part in the work.  It is through our examples that we can instill in others the desire to serve Heavenly Father's children.  Always remember - the example is the most powerful living testimony. 

I hope that everyone has an incredible week!

Choosing to Follow Him

Hello everyone!!

This week was pretty solid!  To highlight a couple of the events that occured - Wednesday - the AP's came on splits to the area.  We had a day full of finding, where we ended up finding about 15+ potential people that gave us phone numbers and e-mails.  It was absolutely incredible to be out there and see the work done in front of us!  One time the assistant said, "We need to find someone".  A girl walked out of the shopping mall so, we stopped her and eventually told her that Heavenly Father knew her personally and loved her.  She told us "thank you" and you could tell it was so sincere.  It was a special day!

At the end of the day, we taught one of my favorite investigators who we asked to keep the Word of Wisdom (the health law that we Mormons live by).  As I asked her to keep the commandment, she looked to the picture of the Savior as if it was He, himself asking her the question. She recognized it wouldn't be particularly easy but said she would keep it!  In the next couple of days, she sent us a text expressing how grateful she was for the work we do.  We really are the disciples of Christ, asking others to follow Him.

On Friday, my companion and I traveled to Haugesund for splits.  At the conclusion of the splits, one of the missionaries asked me where I would be attending school after my mission.  I told him that I had received my Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State and that I will probably be going to graduate school shortly thereafter.  He then said, "I was going to ask why Elder Holden was so mature" - the comment really hit me.  On the bus ride home, I was deeply thinking about that comment and the many incredible role models and experiences I had to prepare me for this work.

To anyone who ever wonders - I know that Heavenly Father knows us as individual children.  We are all special in His plan to bring about His work.  As an Elder in the church once said, "It is not about where we have been in life, but where we are willing to go."  As we show the Lord our willingness to serve His children, He will help us know how much He really knows each one of us personally.

I am grateful for this experience and I hope that everyone has an uplifting week!  Happy March!

Splits with the Mission President and Our Influence on Others

Hello everyone!

This has been quite a special week for me!  Tuesday, as we were walking down the street about to prepare to contact people - I ran into a member that used to live here in Stavanger and recently moved to Haugesund.  It was great to see him, then I immediately thought of an investigator I had wanted to teach him with!  So I called the investigator and we immediately had a lesson at that moment.  It was so fun to see what the Lord does as I have felt so comfortable becoming so well-acquainted with the members here - to the point we can get a member to help teach on the spot!  That was just the start...

Tuesday night, President and his wife came to Stavanger to give us interviews and to also come on teaching splits with me and my companion!  That night, we taught our very incredible investigator who I have been teaching for the past 4 months.  We invited her to pray about baptism and she said she would!  It was a very spiritual teach - it always is with her!  I just hope that I get to see her be baptized - it would be a very special meeting!

The next day we were interviewed by President and Sister Evans!  Sister Evans said to me, "you've had a good mission haven't you?"  I couldn't help but just say that I was so grateful for everything that has happened as a result of my decision to serve.  Things you could never see beforehand, but only a step of faith brings miracles that I've witnessed and been blessed with!  My life has changed tremendously, because I have chosen to follow the Savior!

Later in the week, I got a little sick from not enough sleep and not enough water, but I'm doing fine now!  I'm drinking and going to sleep earlier - so it's been a good recovery!  I was also told by one of the members that I should start eating sardines!  I am officially going to become Norwegian in my diet!  Although, Norwegians don't really even eat that!  I'm just going to become the 'stereotypical' Norwegian.

The last thing I'd like to share . . . We were eating dinner at a member family's home this weekend.  We were discussing how we had visited their less-active son.  They were surprised that we had done so and said that missionaries rarely got in or would even visit him!  I told them that he let us in and that we met him for a little while.  Then, one of the members of the family told me that their brother thought there was something different about me - that he liked me and that was probably why he allowed me in.  I was very humbled to hear her say that.  You never realize the impact you have on people, especially when you're about the Lord's business.

We all have our own specific people to influence on our own life's missions.  Sometimes we fail miserably, other times we succeed greatly.  I am grateful for my decision to serve as a missionary for this church.  It has been the most special experience in my life and I look forward to the next 11-months of growth that I will continue to embark on!

I hope everyone has continued growth and happiness in life!  Have a great week!

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!