There's nothing like this experience. Just go on a mission.

Heeeyyyy heyyyy heyy!

Weeks are flyin and I'm just runnin. I feel like I'm in this marathon or something but I don't have control over anything. My legs just go even when I tell them not to. I like it though. It's making these last weeks really sacred for me. There's nothing like this experience. Just go on a mission.

Monday night was a car night so we went drove around visiting a bunch of less actives and then we decided to stop and visit an investigator that we hadn't been able to get in contact with for a while. I love having the car because it's so efficient! There isn't figuring out bus schedules or walking forever and getting lost. We got the Spirit, car, and GPS and we just go. This man that we visited is named Birger and he's really struggling with everything in his life right now. He leaned up against the doorway and told us that he just doesn't know about life anymore. I was searching my heart and praying so hard to have something to say to him. I was a holding the Book of Mormon and we read some of Alma 32 for him and talked about hope. I love holding the Book of Mormon. Haha I feel like it's my little buddy that always has something to help me. His eyes just looked so sad. I looked right into them and testified that he has a Savior that loves him and understands. We said a prayer with him and left. I wanted to tell him, "Open your heart open your heart open your heart!" You can only help people so much when they don't want to help themselves. It was frustrating, but on the drive home I was wondering how open my heart is and if I really understand how to let the Savior help me. It strengthened my testimony to be able to testify to him of Jesus Christ.

Sara is on fire! That girl! Today we were on our way to the grocery store and she called us and said, "So... I think we need to arrange the next time we can meet. When are you guys free?" When the investigator is calling the missionaries and saying that you know you've got something good. We have spent a lot of time with her this week and talked about everything under the sun. She has asked, "So, am I allowed to come to all three hours of church?" and "What is a testimony? How do I get one?" and "When, where, and how do I get baptized?" Also, in church on Sunday everyone was talking about Elder Bednar coming next week and she said, "An apostle? He's actually called from God? How much does it cost to see him?" She is so honest and open and such a beautiful person. I love her because she knows who she is already and she expects the best from her Heavenly Father. I want to expect the best from Him like her. We have talked so much about baptism. She's praying to get a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and she agreed to get baptized when she finds out. 

We had a training meeting this week with our zone. It was an all-day thing and all we talked about was planning. So yes, I was in heaven. Organization, writing things down, making calls, the secretary work of missionary work. I have such a testimony of it though. We did weekly planning the next day and it was so effective. I feel like I need training meetings like that to remind me to go back to the basics from PMG. I'm excited for a good week.

A lady on the street asked if I was Sister Hartley's mom this week.... I guess my mission has aged me more than I wanted it to. I've gotta find some cream or something. Skien is so different from the big cities because people seem to just have more time. I had forgotten that that's what it was like in Mo i Rana too. A lot of them are religious too which is really encouraging! It's been interesting to me to notice that it's easier for me to respond to people that say they aren't religious at all than it is to respond to people that say they are Christian. My whole mission has been teaching atheists. I'm trying to take the responses I get on the street to the Lord and asking Him what He wants me to say to them. I want something that intrigues them and helps them feel the Spirit.

Sister Hartley and I are in Skien and then there are two elders in Porsgrunn and we are all in the same ward. One of the elders is a beat boxer and the bishop here got him an interview with the radio station and then they liked it so much that a TV station came to an activity at the church on Thursday and interviewed him. Great publicity! It's neat how Heavenly Father uses our talents. Most people we talk to have heard of "the Mormons" before but I think the stereotypes associated with it might be a little bit different now because they could see we were all wearing normal clothes and doing normal things at our activity. They all think we're Amish. In fact, the first time Sara introduced us to her brother she said, "These are the Amish girls. They're not Amish at all, dork." We're spreading good things! 

It's turning into fall here. We've had rain and some thunderstorms and lightning too! I miss the Utah thunderstorms though. Nothing compares to them. I'm grateful I'll get to enjoy this fall and then get out of here for the winter. I'll get to be with you guys!

I am so grateful to be here doing these things. Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. I don't know what people do when they don't know they have a Heavenly Father to turn everything over to. He knows and He cares and He listens. I testify of that. 

I love you guys more than you can imagine. We're doing this and I couldn't be more excited!

Love,

Mikelle

In Oslo to hear Elder Dyches

Little Skien and I are doing well over here.

just wanted a picture of the cows but I ran out really quick and
tripped in the ditched then got electrocuted by the fence.
 I don't think it was worth it. That's what Skien looks like though.
A bunch of farm everywhere. It's beautiful!

Hi again!

The ward here is really good at being involved with the missionaries. Sometimes I almost fall over, in fact, because I haven't experienced anything like it my whole mission. It's so refreshing! There's an incredible lady here named Ragnhild-- she served a mission and then raised 9 kids by herself after her husband died. She feeds us dinner sometimes but this week she was babysitting her grandchildren (also in the ward because everyone is family here...) so she asked if we could come to their house instead. And guess who was there?? Her inactive son, his wife, and a German foreign exchange student that was interested in the Book of Mormon. Missionary heaven! The Lord works in mysterious ways, but it was an answer to prayers. 

We've taught so many lessons to people our age lately. The youth is where it's at. We've been  meeting with a girl named Sara that is half Norwegian half Canadian and she loves the gospel. She told us she wants to marry a Mormon and we liked hearing that! We taught her about the Book of Mormon and closed with a prayer and then she said, "Do you guys have an appointment right now or can I just talk with you more?" She asked us about all of our "little rules" and by the end she said, "Everything makes sense! I just have to mannen meg opp (that means man up but it's funnier in Norwegian) and come to church." And she did! It was so good. We're going to get real serious with our baptism talk this week. Pray for her!

We've been getting referrals from the office like crazy too. All of these Norwegians like to go to high school for a year in the US and the Mormons are smart and let them live with them so they can share the gospel and then they come back to Norway and we get some good calls! We called a girl named Iilse that was an exchange student in Washington and she said, "Can I come to church tomorrow?" YES! She loved it and sent us a text after thanking us. She knows everything because she went to seminary, church every week, and met with the missionaries. She told us now she feels like she kinda needs to make a decision now so she doesn't want to meet with us regularly yet.. that broke my heart a little bit, but I know that things will be great with her eventually. 

my girl Tonje... she's gotta get baptized. she needs it so badly in her life.

I got to go to Oslo. I know I always talk about how much I love it, but I didn't realize how much I really do love it. I was on cloud 9 the whole time! I walked into the center and the twins were there and we all cried and squeezed and squeezed each other. It was the best reunion. The sweet sisters in Oslo arranged splits so I could teach Tonje and see my Anne, my favorite member! It couldn't have been more perfect. Tonje hasn't been meeting with the missionaries for a while, but they called her and told her they wanted to meet and she agreed. We hadn't had time to plan a lesson, but I thought maybe it would be good to read from the Book of Mormon with her. We decided Moroni 7. And then all the questions she had during our conversation ended up being answered from Moroni 7. It was incredible. I got to teach with one of my very best friends, Sister Harrison too. It couldn't have been more of an ideal situation.

old churches everywhere!

I got to sleep in my old little apartment and catch up with everyone. It was all such a tender mercy and blessing. I think it was Heavenly Father's way of telling me that He's glad I came on a mission. The Spirit was strong on Friday when we met with Elder Dyches. He was a really casual, funny man and he and his wife were really entertaining to listen to. I feel like I got answers from the Spirit that had nothing to do with what they were talking about. I really like this though: "The desires of your heart can overcome the barriers of your weaknesses." It was just such a good two days and it was really hard to leave. 

Little Skien and I are doing well over here. I'm always amazed at how Heavenly Father works. I was thinking about answers to prayers the other day and I think most of the time Heavenly Father works through other people for me. People and my relationships have always meant the most to me, but i think I realized that even more this week when I was back in Oslo seeing these people that I love so much. I want to work to be an answer to more prayers for other people.

I love you guys so much! Good luck with school! It will be great!

Love,

Søster Pyne 

We're all just a bunch of people trying to help each other make and keep covenants.

Kjære alle sammen,

Are you tired of reading my emails yet?? Haha we're working in Skien over here! This week our numbers weren't nearly as good as last week and I've been frustrated with that, but it's not all about the numbers, I know, and I feel like Heavenly Father has really taught me some good things this week. No matter how much I try to give back to Him He's always blessing me with more things. I feel super close to the Spirit lately and I'm really enjoying it. I definitely feel like we are just so surrounded by it all the time that we don't even realize how strong it is. But all the members this week kept telling us to come over because we have a different feeling that we bring to their home. That was such a compliment to me!

Kjell Roger is such a cool man. He loves being outside so much and he's just a really calm person. I can't remember if I told you that he works as a rehab counselor? He said that the other day one of the younger boys escaped and he was running away so Kjell had to run after him. He said he just started running next to him and said, "You want to go for a run?" That's just the kind of person he is. He's so prepared. We were having a really hard time deciding what he needed to be taught and Sister Hartley said, "Well why don't we ask him what he wants to talk about!" I thought it was a great idea. He asked if we could talk about what real success is and how you achieve it. That's such a good thing to talk about but such a huge topic too!.We thought about it for a while and finally decided talking about Moroni 10:32 was a good idea. We talked about what is considered worldy success and Godly success and how really, when you come unto Christ, you have both worldy and Godly success in the long run. I wish I could have taken notes or something because it was such a good discussion. We told him he'll be successful if he gets baptized. He told us, "Maybe." Maybe is better than no... we're getting there. Patience is tested on every level every day.

 

On Saturday night we suited up and went out in the rain to find the people that were hiding in their houses. We got soaking wet. By the time we started walking home we figured we might as well jump in the puddles because everything was soaked. It was really really fun! I feel like I'm just living in this numb little Spirit world where I don't really know what's going on, I'm just being a missionary. It's so weird what being a missionary does to you! It's so neat how it creates a foundation for your life though. I love it. 

We're going to Oslo on Thursday and Friday this week for a conference with Elder Dyches from the 70 and I'm SO excited!! It takes a couple hours to drive from Skien to Oslo so we'll leave early Thursdaymorning. My city and my people!! It's going to be so good. I'm really looking forward to hearing from Elder Dyches too. I'm ready for new motivation and counsel and revelation. 

Norway at her finest!

There are two families that make up this whole ward. I need to make a big family tree or something because every Sunday Sister Hartley is whispering, "Remember this person, that's their uncle and they're this person's dad." The Bishop is a rock and his whole family is in the ward. He is Dutch, but he grew up in Norway. We ate dinner with his Dutch parents on Saturday night and it was so fun! I felt like I was in a different country. They have this beautiful huge garden and I DIED when they showed it to me! They even gave me some lettuce :) But Sister Top, the mom, took us to visit an old investigator. She said that she had visited her a few weeks earlier and taken her flowers and a hug. I was so impressed that she had kept this woman in mind even though she had only met her when she helped the missionaries teach her. There are good people everywhere. The lady wouldn't let us in, but she told us to come back another time. Sister Top is this 75 year old woman and she walked away from the door and said, "Well that was good! We had some contact!" I loved it. I want to live long and live well just like her.

Last night we ate with the Lund family. They live in a cabin in the woods and we put on their boots and went 

hunting for blueberries in the forest to go with our ice cream for dessert. I was in heaven. Their family has been through a lot of hard things and they understand what it means to keep covenants. I love them for it. 

there's a pretty church in every city

We're all just a bunch of people trying to help each other make and keep covenants. I read a talk this morning that said there are three sources of help for us. 

1. The Atonement

2. The Holy Ghost

3. the help of other people

I have such a testimony of all of these things, but especially the third one this week. I know that Heavenly Father expects us to help each other and offer unconditional love. I feel like I'm understanding love more and more. I'm so grateful for you guys because you teach me what love really is. And it's all gonna be okay because of Heavenly Father's love for us. 

We're down to 8 weeks, my friends. Is this really happening? It's all a lot to take in, but it's been the most beautiful thing and I think it will continue to be. I'm excited. 

I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Sister Pyne

We had a miracle week.

God dag god dag!

I need to get more original with my greetings because they're awful lately. I'm sorry. There are only so many you can come up with after a while.

We had a miracle week. Hartley is really fun to work with. This morning we studied and then we told each other what we learned and we started talking about families. I read Elder Corbridge's talk from last conference about Joseph Smith and I was thinking about how all the things that have been restored through Joseph Smith are for the family. All the priesthood keys and temple ordinances and explanations about God's plan for us-- it's all for the family. He also talks about how wherever you find the biggest dust cloud you're going to find the truth underneath it. The family has huge dust clouds over it right now. Even in the lives of members of the church that have their priorities a little bit skewed. Family is number one, always, regardless of circumstances. It's all you've got in the end anyway. 

We visited an older lady this week named Eva. Sister Hartley kept telling me that I was going to cry, but I was determined not to. Eva has a non-cancerous tumor growing in her brain that is slowly paralyzing her but it's too dangerous to operate. She is there mentally, but she can't move her body. She lives in a care center and her husband lives in this sad little apartment next to the center just so he can be with her every day. We went and asked him to take us to see her yesterday and he got all excited and walked us over there. She was asleep when he opened the door but he opened the curtains and kissed her on the forehead and told her she had guests. You could see that she was so happy to see him. He told us that she understands everything, but she can't say anything, so to just talk to her about our lives. He left the room and then came back in and said, "Oh. She likes songs." He pulled out a hymn book and gave it to me. And then he kissed her again and told her to relax and enjoy herself. He left, and then the door opened again and he came back in and said, "And. She speaks English. So if you can't say it in Norwegian, say it in English." Then he kissed her one more time and told her not to worry and he would be back in a little while. We sang for her and told her about ourselves and you could just see in her eyes that she's still in there. I was just fine until the closing prayer and then I started crying. But it's because I was thinking about families again and how that's all you've got in the end. 

I just want a worthy priesthood holder that gets it-- that understands that life is more than jobs and fun and looks. It's about family and about relationships. And if he understands that, then our family will understand that. And I think we'll be pretty set. I'm so grateful that you have made our family priority, mom and dad. 

Having a car has been such a great blessing! I feel like we can be so quick with everything. There aren't many people on the streets here which has taken some adjusting to, but it doesn't mean we don't talk to the people on the streets even though we're driving a car. The other night we were driving home and this man was kind of jogging away from where we were driving, but the Spirit told me we had to talk to him. I said, "Sister Hartley. Stop the car. We gotta talk to him." And she stopped and said, "I was feeling it too." The problem is that he was kinda running and we have short legs so we were running and he knew we were chasing him. Finally Sister Harley yelled, "Hei!" and he stopped and stared at us like we were stupid. He wasn't very interested and barely took a mormon.org card, but I know that he needed to talk to us regardless of what happened. I love being this close to the Spirit. I don't think we realize how close we really are.

We were waiting at the church for an appointment and a random guy walked in. We were a little freaked out at first, but he told us he has two nieces in America that are members and he wanted to know more. We told him we had an appointment right then but to write down his info and he asked if he could just sit in on the appointment we had. So cool! We're going to go to his house this week (he has a wife and fam) and teach him. 

The lesson he sat in on was for Kjell Roger. He feels closest to God in nature and tells us, "I'm not ready to take a bath yet because I want it to be with my whole heart." But he's coming, and he's going to be an incredible member. After we finished the lesson he asked the guy that just walked in the church (Evan) if he had a Book of Mormon. Evan said no and Kjell Roger said, "Well. You need one." And looked at me. Investigators doing missionary work! That's what it's all about!

We've been meeting with this guy named Bruno and he's been investigating the church for forever. He showed up at church on Sunday, stayed for all three hours, and bore his testimony about missionary work! He said, "Your missionaries do good work." It was really neat to hear that he feels like that. We just need to shove him in the water now. He's so ready. 

We met with another kid named Bjørn (everyone names their kids "bear" here) and he had lots of good questions. He asked why God creates imperfect humans when he is a perfect human being. I had never thought of it like that before, but I felt like the Spirit really inspired Sister Hartley to know what to say. I'm always frustrated because I wish I could put things I feel into words better. But that's what the Spirit is for. He's this 18 year old kid that wants the truth. I love when they're young. They're the best. 

We visited a lady named Jofrid this week too that Hartley met on a bus. We could have done a better job teaching because at the end of the lesson we asked her if she would read a chapter in the Book of Mormon and she said no and we were so surprised! But then she asked us how much it costed. We had to back way up and say no no no we're paying to be here, lady! Take the book! Salvation is free-- just do what Jesus Christ wants you to do. It's my biggest fear to have people think we're salesmen. That's the last thing I want to be.

There was no one at church yesterday and I felt like I was in Mo i Rana again. It kind of freaked me out a little bit. But I was so impressed with how everyone got up and bore their testimonies. If you're going to be a member in Norway you have to know that this church is true because you don't have very many supporters. I love them. They're kind of like a bunch of grown up primary children that are still trying to figure out how the church works. It's neat to see them grow and understand the gospel more fully-- especially when they go to the temple. 

This mission stuff. It's exhausting. I'm running to the end and I think I'm going to collapse into your arms, but I'm so grateful for all of it. It's all going to be okay. I love Heavenly Father and I know He's there. I've never been more sure.

I love you.

Love,

Søster Pyne