The things that really matter are what make us happy and prepare us for the Celestial Kingdom

Thank you for the cute lemonade stuff, mom! We loved it!

Guys!

I am so happy to hear from you each week. Thank you for sending me happy news and for doing the right things that keep your testimony strong. The things that really matter are what make us happy and prepare us for the Celestial Kingdom anyway.

I don't know why I feel like a weather report is always important, but we have had sunshine all week and I forgot that I'm living in Bergen. It's been heavenly. I felt kind of naked walking around outside without a coat on but I'm starting to have freckles on my nose again that I haven't seen for forever because I've been living in dark Norway.

Else Marie told us all about her life this week when we met with her. She took us to this little grandma cafe and we drank hot chocolate with way too much cream and listened to her stories. She has been a Jehovah's Witness for lots of years but she hasn't agreed with everything they say. One day she told God that she needed to find something better. And she was walking around the big pond in the middle of the city and there were 2 missionaries taking pictures of the sky. She stopped and said, "It's a pretty sky, isn't it?" And she said she knew there was something different about them. They came to her house and prayed with her and listened to all the hard things she had gone through. She prayed to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and she had a dream where two men in white came and told her it is true and he was a prophet. That was in 2010. Since then she's been kind of in and out of the church, but she came back recently because she kept running into these kind people in the city that just so happen to be members of the ward here. She knows everything is true-- she just needs to understand that the next step is baptism. Please pray for her to understand this this week!

that's Elvis. he got baptized last year. he's a river raft guide.

That was the only lesson we taught all week. I heard that a mission presdient in Poland did a study with all of the new converts because his missionaries were getting so discouraged. The new converts said on average it was the 7th time that the missionaries had had contact with them that they agreed to consider the lessons seriously and do something about them. I know that we are Else's "7th missionaries" because she is ready! I have such a testimony that most of the things I will do here are just seed planting. But that introduction to something so life-changing isn't ever forgotten by the person.

We did a "Mormon Helping Hands" project with the ward this week and helped clean up garabage around the community. I've always wanted to wear one of those yellow vests and I finally got to! We had a barbeque after and it reminded me of home. It felt so good to sit outside and smell the barbeque and eat hot dogs. 

We were sitting on the bybane (the tram thingy) and this mom got on with 3 little kids. The youngest was crying and then the other 2 started to fight and you could tell that she was so tired. Everyone around her just stared at her and looked annoyed and I wished I could do something to help. All the sudden the Spirit reminded me I had a little toy cat in my bag. I hurried and pulled it out and asked the mom if I could give it to her little girl. I gave it to her and then patted the mom's shoulder and told her she was doing a good job and got off the bybane. I was grateful that the Spirit reminded me the cat was in there and for the opportunity I had to encourage motherhood and families. I hope people saw my tag and wondered about why I did that. Those are my most favorite kinds of things to do as a missionary. People notice little acts of service and that is what touches their hearts.

ward helping hands project

I read a really good quote from Elder Ballard this week about what a quality life really is. It's a life that:

positively influences others

*makes the world around it a better place in which to live

*is constantly growing 

expanding its horizons

enlarging its borders

*is filled with love, loyalty, patience and perseverance, kindness and compassion

*is based on eternal potential and not confined to this life only

*is a life well lived

He also said, "If during the course of our time here on earth we learn to use that wondrous gift of agency in positive ways to bless our own lives and the lives of others, then our journey will have been successful no matter how long it lasts and how much is accomplished." It was comforting to me to go through the list and think about my goals and to know that Heavenly Father is proud of all of His children when they make good choices.

It's all been yellow. I'm living in this yellow house in the valley of Norwegian mountains. I tell people about the Light of the World-- people that are drawn to anythying warm or light. You should see them when the sunshine is out. And I have this light and I've had Him all along. I want to tell them that it's all yellow. Life is messy and difficult and it rubs you raw. But it's beautiful and yellow because it's all part of something bigger than us. I am so grateful to be here and I know that what I'm telling people is true with my whole heart.

I love you. Enjoy the week!

Love,

Søster Pyne

There is nothing more stable than Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter!!

Yesterday was a good day. I hope that you remembered the Savior and had pretty weather and lots of good food. And also watched that video on lds.org! Oh my goodness. If you haven't watched it yet... watch it. It's called "Because of Him". I think we've watched it like 15 times and I get tears in my eyes every time. We have been showing it to all the people we meet with too.

our Easter lillies

Norway shuts down for a week and a half for Easter. All of the stores are closed, the streets are empty, and no one is home. We decided to get creative on Saturday. We bought a bunch of daffodils cause they are called easter lillies here and pinned the "Because of Him" link to them and then gave them to all the women we saw on the street and told them they were to remind them of the true meaning of Easter. Most of them smiled and took the flower but it was amazing to me-- some of them told us no and kept walking. By the end we got a little frustrated, in fact, because no one would take the last couple. I think it bothered me because it was more than just the flower that they were rejecting, it was the message of Easter and the Savior. But I know that He lives. It makes me sad to see these people not understanding what we have to offer them, but it makes my testimony and conviction stronger. And someday, they will know. It was fun to hold a basket with flowers in it and walk around giving them to people though. 

the fløibane

Monday night we went to Colleen and Jan Inge's house and had family home evening with their friend, Else Marie. She is such a sweet woman! She just cried and cried as she bore her testimony to us about Christ. She has had a hard life and she loves her Savior so much. Colleen and Jan Inge have a cute little house that provided a great environment for the Spirit. We basically just had a testimony meeting about Christ and Sister Robbins and I didn't say much because everyone was so excited to share their experiences. It was really good. Else Marie was supposed to come to church yesterday but she didn't show up and we were really sad. Then last night at 10:00 she called us and said her daughter surprised her and came to visit so she couldn't come to church. I love when investigators apologize for not coming to church! We're going to meet with her on Wednesday again. She's so ready to be baptized. She told us that there is something different about what she feels here. 

Oh! And the way we got to Colleen and Jan Inge's house was on this thing called the fløibane. Google it! It's this train thing that goes straight up the side of the mountain. It's kinda scary to ride and I don't really understand how it doesn't fall back down because it makes stops all the way up the mountain. But it was really fun and we got to see all of Bergen as it went up and up. This place is beautiful. I don't think I'll ever get over it. 

Elder Badger made a scavenger hunt finding day for us
and we had to take pictures. It was fun!

We knocked on a bunch of doors this week too. The evenings the past couple of nights have been gorgeous and we have enjoyed just wandering around in the quiet neighborhoods looking at all the cute little Norwegian houses. Not very many people were home, but a little girl answered one of the doors. Her dad came and we asked them what they believed in. He looked at his daughter and said, "What do we believe in?" She smiled shyly and said, " God og Jesus." It made me so happy to see that this dad was teaching his daughter something good! And then we asked if we could come back and bring them a Book of Mormon and his daughter said, "Yeah yeah! Let them come back! Please!" Of course her dad couldn't say no... so we are going to go back this week. I love how kids just know! 

I'm excited to actually be able to meet with people again this week because everyone will be back from vacation. I'll let lyou know how it goes with Anders. I'm really excited to meet with him again. They're my favorite. 

This morning while I was studying I was thinking about Christ and what He means for me. I crave stability so much, especially as a missionary. We are always trying to make things stable-- buildings, relationships, roads, our health, you know, everything. And there is nothing more stable than Jesus Christ. That's why we have this natural attraction to stable things because we need Him. I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and the stablilty I have of the Savior in my life. I love Him. 

I love you! 

Love,

Søster Pyne 

Crossing his fingers and grinning he said, "I hope what you guys have to say is true!"

companion study this morning

Hi everyone!

I'm standing at a library computer in the basement wrapped up in my scarf and coat. I'm going to try and type this fast so.... sorry for the typos.

Sister Robbins and I made a list of accomplishments this week while we were doing weekly planning. #1 of course is that Anders wants to get baptized!! We met with them on Monday night and really just talked with him about his feelings about God and how his family would feel if he was baptized and what it would mean for them. He told us that he is afraid of death and he likes the idea of the temple. Crossing his fingers and grinning he said, "I hope what you guys have to say is true!" And we said that's where you start, Anders! Hope. He agreed to work to baptism on May 24th. He's had all the lessons and been to church a lot of times so now it's just really helping him get an answer for himself. It's going to be so good! Keep praying for this little family so they can have all the blessings of the gospel.

loooook at those peonies!

Ummm... we have been really trying to help the ward members be more involved with missionary work. We give a "missionary tip" at the beginning of relief society each week and that has been really helpful. And tonight we are going to a nice couple's house to have family home evening with one of their friends. The husband is Norwegian and the wife is from New York. She speaks Norwegian with a Bronx accent and it's the coolest thing ever. We are so excited! Their friend has been coming to church just because she likes how she feels. I talked to her at church yesterday and she was really excited about family home evening. 

Oh man, we are blessed people. I am so grateful for all of the blessings we have. Because we have been given much we too must give. And Heavenly Father trusted us enoguh to know that we would give and sacrifice because we love Him. 

Ah I have to go-- have a happy week! And Happy Easter! 

Love,

Søster Pyne  

I think the message for enduring the last days is cling to your family and your covenants!

Hello my dears!

I love Sis. Robbins!

It's been a good week! Sister Robbins and I are having a lot of fun. She is such a good person and I am so grateful for her. We had a day this week where we both felt like ugly sister missionaries... those days happen a lot. I think there's a rule that sister missionaries just can't be very cute or something because they would cause problems. Hahah.... just kidding.... but we were sitting waiting for the bybane feeling like dorks and this old lady walked past. I smiled at her and said, "God dag!" And she stopped and looked at me. At first I thought she was going to get mad. But instead she smiled and asked us if we were "the Americans." She told us welcome to Bergen and she hopes we enjoy our stay and then she said, "It's so nice to see two pretty girls here!"   
  
I just got tears in my eyes as I realized Heavenly Father couldn't have given us a more direct confirmation of His love. He's there and He loves us! I know it!

dessert at the hotel...we are spoiled rotten. we had to move

into the hotel again this week because of construction.

Conference was so good. I have so much motivation and desire to be better. I feel like there was so much emphasis on families and covenants. I think the message for enduring the last days is cling to your family and your covenants! They are all the matter anyway. I am so grateful for both. 

We got to stay in a hotel again this week... I feel so guilty every time but it was really fun too! They give us restaurant food to eat every day for every meal and I kind of felt like I was going to die after. But it was a good little "vacation" in a way. 

We were visited our flower-loving less active this week. She's a cat lady.. and I wore a black dress that day... and it was a very wrong choice. So she brings in this apple cake and I look at Sister Robbins and I mouth, "I can't do it." She went back in the kitchen to get something else and Sister Robbins opened the window and through her cake out of it! She lives on the top floor of an apartment building so... I figured if she's not eating it then I'm not! Hopefully it didn't fall on anyone.

i agree with Grieg --
thank you for my childhood mom and dad! :)

Edward Grieg's house. it was so beautiful!

We got to go to Edward Grieg's house today. It was beautiful and 

so neat to me! I got to close my eyes and listen to music and see the cute little house he lived in right on the fjord. It was breath-taking of course. 

i don't really know why this large bunny is there

We met a girl a couple weeks ago named Viktoria. She's in high school and she said she was Christian but her mom wasn't. We asked if we could meet with her and she gave us her number. She seemed a little skeptical, but then we got to meet with her and guess what? She brought 2 friends! It was really exciting to be able to teach all of them. They all had really different backgrounds but they wanted a Book of Mormon and kept asking questions. We're going to meet with them again this week.

We are going to visit Anders tonight and help him set a date to be baptized. I'm so excited but also nervous! I know that testimony will bring the Spirit though so it will all be okay. I love their little family so much! We are going to have Mina help us teach her dad and I think it will also touch his heart to have his daughter bearing testimony to him. Pray for them!

I love you guys to the moon and back!

this is what happens at 10 at night after a long
missionary day

Love,

Søster Pyne

ew. i found him in the woods today.

Bergen District April 2014!