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