Chillin' With My Gnomies in Norway: It's a New Year 2015…the GOLDEN Year!…Week 18

Soster Neilson is starting this new year in a new area! She has been reassigned to a little coastal town called Alesund! It's a bit south of the town she's been serving in. The church is tiny in Alesund. There are about 5 active members and they meet on Sundays in a bakery. :) She said its bitter sweet to leave Trondheim but she is excited for the opportunity to serve in Alesund. Her new companion's name is Soster Buhler. She will fly to Alesund Wednesday morning, January 7th! :)

Kjære venner! (Dear Friends!)

Can you believe it is already a New Year???? Holy cow! It is 2015! When the clock hit mid-night all us missionaries were at a members house watching fireworks go off (because in Norway when its a new year everyone everywhere shoots off TONS of fireworks!) my zone leader Elder Shanklin leans over to me and says, "You have just started your black year!", hahaha because I will be in Norway for the whole year of 2015, but I think this is my GOLDEN year! It is time to jump in head first and really get to work! I am so grateful for new beginnings and a chance to be better!

I have a story, on New Years Eve morning, I woke up to my companion gasping for air. She had been in a lot of pain for a couple of hours and didn't want to wake me up. She had been throwing up and feeling this awful pain in her body. We finally called the Elders and asked them to meet us at the church building to give her a blessing. She wasn't able to sit because of the pain and she kept getting sick. We were all very worried about her and if you know Søster Hartley, you know that she is NOT a whimp! She is a tough nut! But she was in so much pain. I remember sitting there, helpless watching and waiting for the Elders to get to the church. When I heard the door open and the Elders came into the church, it was like the spirit was called down from heaven! When they walked into the room, the power of peace and comfort was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Without even saying a word to anyone, they walked over to Søster Hartley and began to give her a blessing. After the blessing, we carried my poor companion to the hospital where she was told she has kidney stones. She was such a stud and is feeling much better now. The power of the Priesthood is amazing! I am so blessed to be apart of this church and to be a missionary for it! I love the opportunity I have to share!

I'm sorry for the short email but missionary work calls! I love you all! Gud vær med deg til vi sees igjen!

-Søster Neilson

Happy New Year! New year's Day found the missionaries watching members of the Trondheim Ward taking The Polar Bear Plunge! They enjoyed a bonfire and roasting hot dogs afterward! :)

(photo credit Per Ellingsen)