With Love, Sister Pyne: I got to go to the temple for the last time for a while this morning.

Heisann my best people!

That word sounds Asian to me but it just means hello. So. Don't be alarmed. Guys, this is crazy crazy. Being a missionary is the opportunity of a lifetime. This week I have been reminded lots of times of my favorite lyics, "Your skin and bones turn into something beautiful." We are children of God. We have a loving Heavenly Father, and each of His children need to know this. My heart feels so close to these people that I haven't even met yet. When Chad Lewis came for devotional last week (or was that two weeks ago...? time here is so weird) he said, "You're going to meet weird people. People are really weird. But you look right through them to their heart and you love them." I want to always do this. Even when I'm not a missionary. Jeg vet at Gud elsker oss.

WE HAVE TRAVEL PLANS!!! I'm freaking out. Sometimes I'm so excited and sometimes I feel like I'm going to throw up. Mostly the throw up part. We have layovers in Dallas and London. I can't believe that this is real! We'll leave on Monday, the 27th. We'll get to Norway in the afternoon on the 28th.

We skyped Norwegians yesterday. Uh..... terrifying! They are members, thank goodness. They were the sweetest people. Their names are Marcel and Lotta and they have been married for two years. They were really kind and helped us with our awful Norwegian because they speak perfect English as well. I feel so spoiled. We really do have the best of both worlds because they'll be patient with you while you try to speak their language, but they all speak English too so you can actually communicate. We shared a message with them about attending church and then just asked them about Norway. It sounds like a dream. I really do think that it's the most beautiful place in the world and I haven't even been there yet.

A girl on my floor has mono. Heaven forbid we all get mono and can't go to Norway. We're trying to be really careful about germs, but it's hard when you're so close all the time. We make the best of living this nun life though! There's a girl in my district that is a vocal major and she sings Strauss for me while she's in the shower. I love it. ]

Sister Taylor, one of my teachers, brought things from Norway for us to see this week. She has these beautiful wool mittens that someone knitted her. They remind me so much of Jan Brett books. They're absolutely beautiful. She knitted her name into them and they have scalloped edges and rosettes. We also celebrated the 17th of May which is like their independence day. They wear beautiful traditional dresses and have parades and nobody goes to school or work. Sounds lovely to me! I can't wait for next year. They also love trolls just like the Jan Brett books. I don't understand that part cause trolls are ugly.

Mom! Thank you so much for the lilacs! Oh my goodness. I died. And so did everyone around me. We all smell them a whole bunch every day. You were so kind to sacrifice your bush for me. I promise that they're much appreciated. I had forgotten that we even had that bush. Also. Are the peonies blooming? Ah. Enjoy that beauty for me!

Okay so I didn't know this, but you can go to Tucanos for free if you are a missionary! Too bad we can't get out of this place but... Hunter. Take full advantage. Go there for lunch before you go to the MTC!

I love this: "You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down. So why bother in the first place? Just this: what is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer. But one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself by the memory of what they once saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least know." I feel like this email is really random, but I'm just throwing in all the stuff I want to tell you!

Norwegian is coming okay. I'm trying to just give all of my fears to the Lord because I don't know how to say very much at all. And it's all church vocab so actually getting around in the country will be interesting. They aren't going to have enough trainers for all of the girls going, so they're either going to put 3 of us together, or they're going to stick two newbies by themselves. Heaven forbid I get stuck by myself. But everything works out when you believe in God, so I guess it would work out somehow! I can't believe that we're actually going to Norway!! Holy cow. There are 21 of us that will get there the same day and 17 are sisters so it will be really interesting to see what the poor President and his wife do about all of us sleeping there the first night. It will be a slumber party!

Um.... the MTC was not prepared for all these women. There's a urinal in the girl's bathroom because they had to convert it to a girl one. I love it! So... on Friday night you gotta have a little fun you know? Luckily Sister Harrison is my partner in crime! Also. Look at the pictures! My Sister Mourik is an incredible artist! She drew these for me. Can you believe it? I need to get them laminated.

I got to go to the temple for the last time for a while this morning. The blessings of the temple are so beautiful. I was so sad to leave the Celestial room. Take full advantage of having a temple so close and we'll work on getting one in Norway!

Dad, your email meant so much to me. Thank you for being such a wonderful father. I feel the power and strength that comes from the priesthood that you hold and I know that you bless my life. It comforted me and helped me to feel like I can do this. I love you.

The next time I get to email you, I'll be in Europe! I'm grateful to be the Lord's servant and to teach people about His love. I love this gospel and I know that it is true with my whole heart.