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