With Love, Sister Pyne

Kjære familie,

Jeg er så takknemlig for dere og jeg elsker dere. Every day we teach people about these things that make our family so happy and bring so much joy. The more I talk with people, the more I realize that I have lived in a fairy-tale my whole life and will continue to do so as long as I am steadfast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It IS the way, people! Good heavens. I promise it is what brings the most happiness. President Uchtdorf says, "Happiness is the destination, but it is also the path."

We have a lot of adorable less active ladies that are in their 20's that we have been visiting. They are all incredible and I'm obsessed with them! Sister Pitts and I felt that starting personal progress was important because they are converts and have never done it so we have been doing that this week and seeing miracles! We went to Gro's (she's adorable and our close close friend-- she loves BYU so she's gonna come visit us all the time when we are back) house and Unnur came and we sat and ate naughty Norwegian chocolate and did personal progress. I have such a testimony of personal progress. Seeing these women do things that give them confidence and self worth is life changing. Norway has a social law that says no one can be better than anyone at anything and no one should stand out. And it takes a huge blow to these teenage girls' confidence. Sister Pitts and I feel like we are running all over the place trying to help these girls understand how important they are! Our favorite thing to tell them is that they are daughters of God. Sometimes they laugh at us, but then they realize we are serious. It's SO true!!

what a pretty little place. we ate dinner with a member in a little
city called Kolbotn

I am doing personal progress again too. This morning during my studies I was reading in Proverbs 31. "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the staff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." This is the kind of woman I want to be and I am so grateful to be a missionary right now because I know that it is what will prepare me to be like this.

ah man. these cows. look at that picture! i even caught him mooing!
haha they make all the milk that i drink and i love them.

Last p-day we visited COWS!!!! Oh man. Cows in Norway? It doesn't get better than that. I died.

Also, I was sitting on the t-bane and this pretty little classy European lady leans over to me and says, "Excuse me." Uh.... what? My face must have looked like I died because no one EVER talks to you and I'm always the ones doing the excuse me's. But I looked at her and she told me she like my clothes and asked me where I got them. I said, "America." Haha as I wore my Walmart shirt and your black skirt, mom! It's from like the 70's isn't it? Anyway.... I talked to her for a minute and she was incredible. She had to get off real quick, but I gave her a card and bore my testimony to her that she is a daughter of God. It's funny how the Lord provides you with opportunities to talk to people.

this is on the way to cat lady's house

Sister Pitts and I always want 3 new investigators every single week. It's the standard of excellence. This week we have struggled though... we have a lot of potentials, but no one answers their phones! So, we got one new one, a lady that we met while running in the morning. Shehas too  many cats but she makes a mean carrot cake! Oh man. Anyway...
we walked out on the street and guess what? We found 2 guys from Africa and brought them to teach them at the center. BTW, the center is for the YSA but we use it to teach all the time cause it's right by our apartment and the church is like 20 minutes away. So we taught them the first lesson. However... in order to count them as new investigators, we needed a specific return appointment. They were very interested, but they just started school and didn't know their schedules for the week yet. So... we didn't get 2 more investigators. But I learned that the Lord has His timing and it's always more important to care about the people than the numbers, of course.

looks at this cat lady's family tree! i'm obsessed! i don't know how
you make something like that. she knew so many cool stories too. she's
definitely prepared :)

ah man. this is what running looks like every morning

I led the music in church yesterday and the closing song was, "I Believe in Christ." I just cried as I realized that I'm in Norway and I was leading a Norwegian congregation in Norwegian singing about our Savior. Oh man. I am so blessed.








Tonje is doing fantastic! She is so ready to be baptized and all she wants to do when she is with us is read Mormons Bok. I feel like she
begs us like a little girl or something and I love it. We have a few other investigators that are incredible too. These people here! You either have to know it, or you don't cause being a member here is hard. I love them!

Well, now that I've talked your ear off, I think I'll go. But first here's a delicious recipe for almond cake. JEG ELKSER DERE!!

Love,
Søster Pyne

  

don't really know what this is supposed to mean....

In large pan heat
1 c. butter
1 c. water

Take off heat and add
1/2 c. sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp almond extract
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tsp salt

Mix well and pour into sheet pan, cook for 20 min @ 375 F

Frosting
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp almond extract
32 oz. powdered sugar

he's from China and he makes incredible sushi. oh my.