I got to wrap her towel around her and give her a hug and she just smiled and smiled.

Hello from sunny Bergen!

That's like an oxymoron but it's true today and it's been true all week. It's been the biggest tender mercy ever because I was going crazy in the dark and cold. I realized I hadn't felt warm sun on my face since September and it made me so happy. I am grateful for the little things that Heavenly Father keeps giving me so that I feel like I can do this.

that's Mina!

Mina got baptized on Saturday!! She had a ton of family there and lots of ward members. Everything went really well and she was so happy. I got to talk about baptism and the path that it puts us on back to our Heavenly Father. We need covenants to be able to cling to something when that path is scary and difficult. I love being able to help people make covenants and remind others of their covenants. I think sometimes I forget how powerful they really are and I don't rely on them as much as I should. But sometimes I like to feel the edge of my garments on my leg when I'm just sitting there and think about the things I promised Heavenly Father. Mina's mom wanted to be out in front of the font so she could watch her be baptized so I got to be in the font part with her. She was really nervous but she did great! I got to wrap her towel around her and give her a hug and she just smiled and smiled. I don't think she realizes how significant her baptism really is. She is changing her family.

scrubbing the font for the baptism...
don't know the last time it was cleaned...
we had to scrub and scrub.

We also had a relief society party, volleyball tournament, and farewell for the senior couple in Bergen this weekend so it was crazy! I've never washed so many dishes! It was really good though because I got to know ward members a lot better and have a lot of fun with them. I'm really impressed with how involved the ward is here and how they help with missionary work. They are good people. Relief Society beat Elder's Quorum in volleyball by the way. We were proud of that.

We met with Hakam again for the first time in a while. He wanted to "get some coffee" so we went to this little outside place and had some hot chocolate with him. He taught us all about Islam and the culture and Palestine. It helped me to understand him better. We actually have a lot of similar beliefs and customs. We talked about how important family is and how eternal families are the goal. I want so badly for him and his family to understand the blessings that are waiting for them. It starts with a testimony of Christ as the Son of God though. Testifying to him that He really is the Son of God strengthened my testimony a lot. I know that we need Jesus Christ.

all the flowers are making my heart go crazy.
this is my favorite little flower shop in the city.

On the way to the relief society party we picked up one of our less-active friends, Birgit. She's the one with the cats that drew a portrait of me. I'd never met someone that loves flowers as much as me until I met her! It seems like all of the flowers have come out in this last week because of the sun and Birgit had to stop and admire every single one on our walk there. It took us an hour to get to the church but it was well worth it. I loved looking at the flowers with her and thinking about how spring always comes-- literally and in any other way when things are dark and difficult.

so. pretty. so pretty, people.

Sister Robbins and I watched the general women broadcast for studies this morning and we both just cried and cried. I forget how at home anything with Salt Lake or the tabernacle makes me feel and it was really neat to see all the women assembled there. It's something you take for granted when you live in Utah but when you're so far away from it, it feels so good to even see it on TV. I feel like everything everyone talked about was staying on the path and keeping covenants. That's why we're here. I want to try asking myself this week, "Does this keep me on the path or not?" A lot of things aren't black and white, but the path is defined and simple and always there. I know that helping other people is part of our covenants because we all need reminders and help. 

our apartment and flowers from the baptism

Can you believe it's April? I guess I kind of can, but it's so weird to think that last year at this time I was going on a mission. This tag has been on my shirt for a year now and I am grateful for the experiences and people that I have met and learned from. There's no other way I could have learned all these things! And even though it's been a year and even though this has been the hardest thing I have ever done, This is still Jesus Christ's church and He still lives and guides it. I know that with all my heart.

I love you I love you and I'll see you in not too long. I can't wait!

Love, Søster Pyne

"If this book says the same thing as the Bible, then I accept it." And we said, "Try it out! It does!"

my cute new comp, Sis. Robbins

Hi guys!

I got a new nice companion this week! Her name is Sister Robbins and she's great! She is very sweet and I am grateful to be with her. We've had kind of a crazy week since she has gotten here but I'm excited to work together.

Guess what? We have sun today!!! It was the biggest present ever. We woke up to a whole bunch of fog, but I thought maybe I could see a little blue sky under it. And then it all went away and the sky was blue. We went hiking and ate ice cream cones and it felt so good to be in the sun. I've never wanted to get sunburned so badly in all my life.

We visited the nice lady from Romania again only this time her husband opened the door. He let us in and I sat down next to him on the couch and he said, "I was in prison for four years. I was a member of a gang and I did things that you only see in movies like robbing banks all over Europe and paying Mexicans to smuggle myself into America." I was ready to go out the door again but then he said, "While I was in prison I read the Bible three times cover to cover and I learned about God and Jesus Christ and left my old life behind." You could see that he had left everything behind. He goes around Bergen telling people about God now and he got really excited when we started talking about the gospel. He picked up the Book of Mormon and said, "If this book says the same thing as the Bible, then I accept it." And we said, "Try it out! It does!" We're going to visit them soon to find out how it went.

We have been visitng a less-active lady named Birgit pretty consistently. She comes to church occassionally, but it's hard for her to come because she has some sort of social disorder. She likes us to come and visit, but usually she's pretty closed. She is an artist and she is always showing us the same artwork over and over again. But this time, I asked her if she would like to draw something for us. She said, "Can I draw you?" I was really surprised, but it made me really excited! She made me sit close to her and she asked me my first name and kept saying it over and over again as she drew. You could tell that she was in her element doing her thing. She's very talented and it looks great! I loved to watch her light up. These people just need love! It's so important. 

We went to Stavanger for zone conference on Friday. We got up at 5 in the morning to catch our flight and then came back at 9 that same night. We took 2 trams, 4 buses and 2 planes all in one day. Norway and traveling is crazy! Zone conference was really good though. We talked about member missionary work and how we can help the work move forward here. I got to see Sister Pitts too and that was so great. These friends I have made here mean so much to me.

that's Laila, the girl we threw the shower for

We also got to throw a baby shower for another less-active girl that we have been visiting. She had a lot of fun and it was really good to do something that meant so much to her. I think that the thoughtful little things are what mean the most to people sometimes. She had a lot of good friends there supporting her from church and she came on Sunday! 

I feel like my emails haven't been as much about investigators lately but I guess it's because right now we don't have too many to talk about. We've been trying to find like crazy and we need people that are ready to be taught! Pray for us to find them and we'll keep praying and working too! 

Thank you for all of your sweet letters and emails and packages and most importantly, prayers. I am so grateful for you guys. I know that this is Heavenly Father's church and I know that He is in charge. Everything is good and happy.

Love,

Søster Pyne

Hey-- pray for us to be able to teach more people, please.

Hey! 

Do you guys have sunshine today? I hope that it's turning into spring and there are flowers that are coming out. It snowed here this weekend so... we're working on it.

We were knocking on doors the other day and we figured we better leave to go to our appointment but of course, the last door is always the magical one. This cute little pregnant lady answered the door and let us in. I've gotten let in once before in the almost year I've been a missionary so... it was kind of a big deal and also I didn't really know what to do. But she was a very sweet Romanian that has just moved to Norway with her husband. We only had a second to talk but it was great and we'll go back tomorrow. I'm always grateful for those little miracles and tender mercies though. They are what make the day happy.

Another miracle! I had been praying and praying to know how to invite Anders to be baptized and I didn't know how to word it or make it so he would feel comfortable but on Thursday we went and visited them and it went great! Sister Hunt and I were on splits so it was basically all in my hands. We taught Mina about baptism and showed her a little clip of a family getting baptized and then I started talking to Anders. I told him that I know missionaries had talked to him before about baptism and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable or anything, but I also  know his family needs these blessings. Of course I cried and his wife started crying and asked how soon after baptism you can go to the temple and get sealed. She wants it so bad. He agreed to start working toward baptism. I really think that being at Mina's baptism is going to be a powerful turning point for him. I'm really excited! Thank you for praying for them. I love their little family and it's so fun to work with them. I remember my setting apart blessing talked about how I would teach families and they would get baptized. Finally it's happening!

Sister Hunt and I also went to "house church" this week with one of her investigators. Basically it's indie church. It was really fun!  But it also just strengthened my testimony of priesthood authority. All these students go to someone's apartment and eat open-faced sandwiches and then they play and sing Christian songs for an hour and then they read a chapter in the Bible and discuss it together. It was kind of like a YSA activity or something and they Spirit was there because they were talking about truth, but they just don't have the whole truth. I am so grateful for the fullness of the gospel. We have it all!

This week is transfers and I'm going to be staying in my area but I'm getting a new companion. Her name is Sister Robbins and she got here like.... 4 months ago I think? I've never met her but I've heard that she's really sweet! It will be good, I think.

We've been having activities on Friday nights where we have innebandy tournaments. I had never heard of it in my life, but it's like floor hockey I guess only with a little ball? It's really fun! It's been helping our investigators feel more included and it feels good to do something a little different.

Last night we helped a less active member learn how to index! I had forgotten how to do it so it took me a minute but then I got addicted after I  did a couple. She was super excited about it and she kept saying, "Why has no one showed me this before??"  I feel like there is always something that helps people come back to church and feel needed. You just have to find it. I really like working with less active people. You have to do the little things every day! Scriptures and prayer, scriptures and prayer. They're so important. 

Hey-- pray for us to be able to teach more people, please. This little area needs help and we are working to find all the people that are ready! 

I love you so much and there's no way I could be doing this without you. I'm praying my heart out for you!

Love,

Søster Pyne

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here

all the sisters in Bergen with our sweet investigators,
Anna and Anisha

 Hello best friends!

How has your week been? I hope that you have had a good one!

So... you know Mina? We went and taught her this week and we asked her to say the closing prayer and she pointed to her dad and said, "No. Make him say it." So you could tell that her dad didn't want to say it and he felt uncomfortable but he took it like a man and said it. It was a really neat thing to hear him pray. His wife walked us to the door after and she was so excited that he had prayed. During weekly planning Sister Peterson and I were trying to find a video of someone being baptized for Mina and we found one from the District about a part-member family. We both felt very strongly that we should show that video and then talk to Anders about baptism the next time we teach them. We fasted yesterday for their cute little family and I know that they are on their way to bigger and better blessings! We'll meet with them again on Thursday. Pray that he will accept the invitation to be baptized!

Our little area has been struggling lately, but we are working working and praying and fasting to help it grow. Sometimes I forget how in charge Heavenly Father is of His work. I don't know what He has planned for this area, but I know they are big things and I'm grateful to be here watching it grow. We're going to work on all of the part active/less active families this week and start finding some truly prepared people. 

I went on splits with Sister Knapp (the other sister training leader that lives with us) on Saturday and we met some interesting people on the street... some really nice, positive people too! But we got attacked by a Muslim man that wanted to fight about why we don't believe the same things and an old man pulled out his camera and asked if he could take a picture of us, and we got kisses on the cheek from another dude from Chile. Haha. You never know what's going to happen when you go outside.

We also knocked on lots of doors in the crazy pouring rain and wind. One of the guys we talked to said, "If God is there why don't you ask Him to give you better weather?" We laughed and said, "We don't need it because that's not what makes us happy. It's so much bigger than that." And it's true. All these things add to the adventure, but they don't take from my belief in God.

milkshakes at the spoiled hotel

Our hotel stay was such a luxury! I don't know how we got so spoiled. We ate way too much food and slept in pretty white beds and had the most fancy continental breakfast I've ever seen in my life. It was nice to be so central in the city too so we could walk out and be right on the streets to find people and take buses. It was a nice little tender mercy.

A sweet 80 year old lady in the ward also taught us how to make kjøtt kaker this week so I'll make it for you when I come back! 

I've been reflecting a lot this week about what a mission is turning me into. I'm on the downhill, and next month I will have been a missionary for year. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here and for the experiences that are teaching me to feel more deeply and love more wholely. 

God loves us so much.

I love you! I miss you like crazy and I know that prayer is keeping us together!

Love,

Søster Pyne

I am just in awe at Heavenly Father's goodness and kindness.

with Sister Hunt when our training sister
companions leave us.

Hello my best friends!

How is everyone doing? I hope that you are doing well and that everything is happy and exciting! I'm sorry that last week was rushed. Actually, a lot of weeks are rushed cause that's just how it goes. But being able to communicate with you every week means a lot to me.

We had a lesson about prayer yesterday in the investigator class and it was so good! I am so grateful to be able to communicate with a Heavenly Father who truly knows us and loves us. You are praying all the time on a mission and sometimes I use that as an excuse for saying rushed prayers. But I know that there is so much power that we have access to through prayer. I really want to make sure my prayers are more sincere this week, but also that I just listen more. I think that spending just quiet time allows Heavenly Father to tell you things that you wouldn't be able to otherwise. 

Well... a nice older couple fed us dinner this week and he asked me, "Are you Asian? Do you have ancestors from an Asian country?" Yep. My dad is Asian. Hahaha I've never been asked that before but I think that I look Asian when I smile. So.... can you look into that, mom?

all of the missionaries plus Jorgen, a 12 year old member
who will be an incredible missionary!

The ward had a party this week and it was really fun and beneficial. We had a couple of investigators and potential investigators there and they were able to meet ward members and feel comfortable in the church building. The missionaries did a dance and I got to know people a lot better. It's always fun to get to know people in a less-formal setting.

They are digging a really big hole or something right outside our apartment and so the government is paying for us to live in a hotel this week! It's a really nice one right in the middle of the city and all of our meals are included. We're going on vacation! I never thought I would be doing that but it's going to be a lot of fun!

that's Bob. he got baptized 2 years ago, i think.

It was winter break this last week so everyone has been really difficult to meet with but last night we met with one of the nice girls that comes to our Norwegian class, Anh. She let us come to her dorm. She is from Vietnam and she is studying gender development because she wants to do something about all of the abortions in her country. She is a really neat girl! She asked us a lot of questions about Christianity. I really like teaching people from the very basics because they don't know that God is there and when they discover that it completely changes their life. I didn't realize that I would be teaching so many people that don't even believe in God but it's been a really big blessing. I just know that He is there.

this is called Brygen and it looks like a fairytale.

from our hike last week.

After church yesterday we went to this beautiful little house in the woods and had traditional kjøtt kaker, boiled potatoes, sukrål, creamed peas, and tyttebar and ris creme for dessert! Else, the sweet member that made it for us has had an incredible life. She has had every trial I could ever think of and she taught me so much. I don't know how I got so blessed to be experiencing these things right now. It makes me want to work harder and be better.

ah man, you just have to see it in person!

I feel humble and calm and grateful lately. I am just in awe at Heavenly Father's goodness and kindness. He is there and His plan is perfect down to every tiny detail of our day tomorrow. I think one of our biggest challenges is just to remind ourselves over and over again to trust God. That's why we have the Holy Ghost!

I love you!

Love,

the view was crazy!

Søster Pyne