The Lord is forwarding His work and He needs sisters!!

Guys!! I'm so excited to talk to you!!!

There ain't no business like soul business. I'm exhausted! Haha I've had a really yucky cold all week. I'm finally feeling better, thank goodness. It's fun to be a missionary in the weirdest way!

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, mom. You are incredible and I love you dearly. I've wanted to tell you all week to watch the new Mormon Message about moms. It's on the home page. Maybe you've seen it already. I watch it all the time and just cry. Haha I'm so grateful for you. You are everything it says in that video and more. Watch it for me. President Packer's talk from last conference also has a really good quote. I can't remember it exactly, but it says something like, "The prayers of a righteous mother are so powerful." I know that they are so powerful and I testify that they are. Also, the bird on pg. 7 in the conference Ensign is adorable.

So. I learned something great this week. You know the baby island called Svalbard? Did you know that if you go there in the winter you are required to carry a gun so you don't get eaten by polar bears? Every year some tourists get eaten. Haha awesome, huh? I highly doubt that President Evans will send sisters there, unfortunately. But. I wish.

In Norwegian, the word "preparation" starts with an f. And the word for day is "dag" (pronounced dog.) So today is F-dag. Sounds like a gangster name, huh? We love it. Norwegian is a pretty cool language, actually. There are funny little phrases that we say all the time to each other like "inganting, tingaling!" That means, "nothing Tinkerbell!" Apparently they love Disney movies so they say that a lot. I've also heard a rumor that President Evans lets you watch Disney movies there... but we'll see.

I played for the departure devotional this week. Sister Oldham and I played "Be Still My Soul" and it went well! It was neat to be able to play something like that to comfort pepole as they get on a bus, go to the airport, and fly all around the world. Oh my goodness!! I'm doing that soon. I might die. Because I can't wait to get out of this place, of course. Haha. We get our travel plans on Friday. I leave a week from Monday. Umm.... that is so soon.

Sister Natalie Cameron, my sweet friend from high school left for Paris yesterday. Before she left, all 5 of us girls, Sister Whitney McLelland, Sister Ari Kokol, Sister Jessica Carlson, and I got to take a picture. It was so neat! I can't believe that we all got to be in here at the same time. Such a tender mercy and who would have ever thought? I am so blessed. Janice Kapp Perry came and taught relief society on Sunday and she wrote new lyrics to "As Sisters in Zion" for sister missionaries! She asked us to sing it for her--first time ever being sung--and as the music started we all stood spontaneously and started to sing. The spirit was incredible. The Lord is forwarding His work and He needs sisters!! We are powerful.

Sunday night was a hard one. I didn't feel good, I just wanted to be with you, mom, and I was feeling scared about leaving so soon. The Lord has ways of strengthening us every time we need it if we just ask. He needs us to be strong and ready to do His work and so He gives us strength. Thank goodness!! Sunday night devotional was some guy over missionary something, I didn't really pay attention obviously, but he gave a really good talk that was motivation for me and uplifting. I take for granted that I get to wear Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day. I have never felt the spirit more constantly in my life and I am so grateful for it. It's a neat thing to have instant answers to prayers because His work has to go forth!

I'm making some great friends here! Last night for gym, we rolled down the hill by the temple and then the sprinklers came on so we ran through them. Then we kind of got in trouble. But it's okay. It was worth it. And we're 20 year old women so I'm pretty sure some college dude employed by the MTC isn't in charge of us anyway. You learn to have fun as a missionary in weird ways so you don't go crazy. No wonder people are weird when they come home!

I know that this is the true church and I know that Jesus Christ lives. Believe in Him, let Him take your pain, and He will. I testify of that. I know that being a missionary is insanely difficult in all ways, but I'm grateful for the opportunity and the time that I get to wear His name over my heart. I love you dearly and I pray for you multiple times every day. Be happy and enjoy this pretty weather! I'll see you soon, my dears.

Love,

Søster M. Pyne